The times., 1899-10-02
FUNERAL OF MR.. WILLEII'
The Impressive Ceremonies Over
the Former Postmaster.
Masonic Rites Omitted at the Re-
quest of the FamiIy-The Inter
ment Was in Oak Hill Cemetery
Near the Grave of james G. Blaine.
An Inquest Held by the Coroner.


yet full of human interest, were perform
ed without ostentation or floral display.
The ceremony consisted of the beautiful
rites of the Episcopal Church, and was re-
cited at the grave by the Rev. DR.. Alfred
Harding, of st. Paul's Episcopal Church.
DR.. Harding simply spoke few words of
consolation to the bereaved family at the
house, and when the cortege arrived at the
last resting place of the city's late post
church was read.
All yesterday and up to the hour of the
funeral, friends of the late postmaster Wis
tied the house and viewed the remains
There was a large attendance this after
neon at the obsequies, notwithstanding
that it had been announced that only the
family and a few friends would be expect
ed. The funeral was intended to be strict
ly private, and no flowers were desired.
There were flowers, however, but not in
profusion. On the casket, which was COW
cred with black broadeloth, and decorated
with pair of silver extension handles. his
brother, Robert, laid some palms and
white roses, and friends supplemented
these with other floral offerings.
On tie silver plate on the face of the
coffin was this inscription:
JAMES P. WILLETT
Born November 81 1914;
Died September 80, 1899.
There was no Masonic ceremony al
though Mr.. Willett was an honored men,
Der of Federal Lodge, Washington Com
mandery, and Eureka Chapter, No. 4. The
family had requested the rites to be strict
ly private, and without other than the re-
ligious ceremony. A number of Mr.. Will
let's Masonic friends were present, how
ever, and followed the cortege to the
grave.
The burial site is one of the most beau
tiful in the old cemetery. The interment
was in what is known as the old Wander
worken circle in the eastern part of the
cemetery, near the resting place of James
G. Blaine. late Secretary of State.
The pallbearers were A. A. Wilson, C.
w. Howard, J. B. Nalle, w. Scott Towers,
Frank Hume. j. Edwin Wilson, w. A. Nc
Kenny, and Frank Carver.
It was remarked by all who viewed the
body of Mr.. Willett that not a blemish nor
a scratch was perceptible upon his face,
nor upon his hands as they folded across
the breast The undertaken who prepared
the body for burial stated this morning to
Times reporter that there was not an
external bruise or biemish upon the body.
An Inquest Held.
The coroner's jury summoned last Satur-
day to investigate the death of Mr.. Willett,
brought in verdict during the afternoon
of accidental death. No one is held crimi-
nally responsible. The jury. however, de-
cided that the barricades placed across the
doors of the shaft were not sufficient pro-
hot int poo -l,c
has been in charge of the building, commit
ted an error in judgment in not providing
better protection. The following is a copy
of the verdict:
We find that James P. Willett died in
the City Postofice Building September 80,
1899, from injuries received by an acciden-
tai fall down the elevator shaft.
I'VE found that the barricade placed al
the elevator doors was not a safe protec-
tion, and that the accident was due TO an
error in judgment on the part of the super
intendent cf the building, Mr.. Reed. We
do not hold him criminally responsible
but would insist that watchman be plac-
ed, hereafter, at each door until the doors
are permanently replaced, and that the at
tention Of the Inspector of Public Build
ings be called TO the matter with a view
Of preventing similar accidents in the fu-
ture.'
The jury met at the First precinct sta
tion this morning and was Immediately
taken in the patrol wagon to the home of
Robert Willett, a brother of the deceased,
who resides at 3014 Street, Georgetown,
where the body was taken after the ecci-
dent to view il. The jury returned short
ly before u O'Clock and began the work OF
taking testimony.
No witness could be found who saw Mr..
Wiliett when he fell through, although
there were several who saw his body in its
descent Whether the body fell from the
fourth or fifth floor was not established.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook was the first
witness, and he testified that death was
evidently due to the shock resulting from
the fall. -~-ther the back nor the neck
were broken, and internal hemorrhage was
probably the cause OF death. Both arms
were badly fractured, and both hips were
broken.
N. ]. Himrod was the second witness.
He is employed by the Merchants Par
eel Delivery Company, and superintende1
the moving of furniture into the building.
Saturday morning shortly after O'Clock,
he was attracted to the freight elevator
shaft. on the Twelfth Street side, where
Mr. Willett had fallen and saw the body
lying across the beam at the top of the
freight elevator He testified that it was
necessary to remove the doors from the
elevator shaft in order to get some of the
larger pieces of furniture through the
opening.
He had instructed the men under him to
place the door lengthwise across the open
ings when the elevator was not in use. He
took particular pains TO have the doors thus
placed and made frequent inspection to see
that his orders were carried out. He stat
ed that Mr.. Hill, the representative Of the
Treasury Department, in charge of the
structure, gave authority to remove the
doors. There were no watchmen stationed
to see that the openings were closed. Men
have since been stationed to guard the ele-
yator entrances. The witness stated that the
door was in position across the entrance
when Mr.. Willett fell.
Witnesses on the Stand.
, Charles F. Trotter, clerk in the Post
Office Department, was next called. He
stated that he was going up in the passen-
ger elevator and just before getting to the
fourth floor, where his Office is located he
| saw the body passing down the shaft. He
supposed it TO be a piece of wood and
looked down the shaft after getting out al
| the fourth floor to see if it had struck
anyone, and saw the body lying across the
| beam. The door of the cage was then ly-
| ing lengthwise across the opening max
| ing a barricade about eighteen inches in
! height. He was not able TO say whether
| Mr.. Willett fell from the fourth or fifth
| floor.
| Miss Annie McRae, of 1901 Fourth Street
| northwest, had just gotten to the first floor
in the passenger elevator when she saw
the body strike the elevator She did not
know from what floor he fell.
| James E. Blois, 81 Street southeast
| conductor in charge of the passenger ele-
| vator in the Twelfth Cfraef sida IN ,,,b ioL