Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-02
CAUSED BY ACCIDENT
Coroner's Jury Returns Verdict in
Post Office Tragedy.
Mr.. JAMES P. WILLElT'S DEATH
No One CriminaIIy Liable, but Jury
Makes Suggestion
TIL E EVID ENCE card

Coroner Carr, assisted by Deputy Cor
oner Glazebrook. held an inquest today
over the remains of ex-Postmaster James
Polk Willett, an account of whose tragic
death at the post office building was pub
lished in Saturdays Star. The hearing
was conducted in the sitting room of the
first precinct station, on 18th street. The
jury was composed of George II. Judd. T.
+. Mcdonald. b. E. Murray, c. A. Snyder.
H. c. Melborn and T. V. Macintosh.
Coroner Carr, who had made a thorough
investigation of the case Saturday. had
the police summon number of witnesses.
He was unable, however, to find the lady
for whom, it was stated, Mr.. Willett
stepped aside in the post office corridor,
which act of courtesy, it was said, cost
him his life
The jury, after full consideration of
the testimony, found that Mr.. Willett's
death was due to an accident. Concerning
the condition of the elevator and the re-
sponstbility for 1t the jury said:
We find that the barricade placed at the
elevator door was not sale protection.
We believe the accident was due to an
error of judgment the part of the SUI
perintendent of the building, MIR. Reed. and
while we do not hold hun criminaliy re-
Spuns.be, would insist that watch
man be placed hereafter at each door
while the opening is in a dangerous condl-
ton, and that the attention OF the inspector
of pubic buildings be called to this mat
ter with a view to preventing similar uc-
currences in the future
Deputy Coroner's Statement.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified that
he examined the body of Mr.. Willett 1t
his late residence and found both his arms
broken in several places between the wrists
and shoulders. His hips We're also frac-
tured. There was no fracture of the back
or neck. Severe internal injury, the wit
ness said, must have ensued from the fail.
Death, DR.. Glazebrook said, was due to
both shock and injury. No examination
of the body other than that stated was
regarded necessary.
William J. HimrCd, who had charge of
the work of removing material in the build
ing, testified that he there in the en-
pioy of the Merchants Parcel Delivery
Company. He read lengthy statement
of the manner in which the elevators have
been run. The Treasury Department., ne
tod the jury, accepted the elevators as
they were found Saturday. Such a barri-
cade as there was at the elevator where
the accident occurred the witness said he
thought was all that was necessary. After
the elevators were received ana accepted
Mr.. Reed, representing Mr.. Hills OF the
treasury department, gave orders Tor the
doors to be kept across the elevator open
ings. The barricade in front OF the ee
vator, he said, was about four feet high.
When witness examined the elevators
Saturday morning the doors were i'll front
of the openings. There was door across
the opening through which Mr.. Wilett fell.
1t was easy matter, he said for a man
to slip on the smooth tilng and fall as MIR.
Willett did.
Witness was called to the elevator shaft
Immediately after the accident happened.
He went to the elevator and, he said, he be-
held sickening sight. Witness Went TO
the assistance of the unfortunate man and
found he was unconscious. Witness heard
three or four slight groans He said that
the work of moving the material was done
under the supervision of the Treasury De-
partment.
Saw the Descending BODY.
Charles F. Trotter, 613 Spruce street,
testified that he was going up in the
south elevator to his office, an upper
floor, when he saw an object going down
the shaft of the freight elevator. Witness
said the object seemed to him to be a
board, but when he got off the elevator
he looked down the shaft and discovered
his mistake. Witness was asked what
there was to protect the freight elevator
shaft, and he said there was an iron gate
about eighteen inches high. He could not
tell from what floor Mr.. Wilett fell.
Miss Annie McRae, 12U1 18th street north
that she heard the noise made by Mr.. Will
let's falling. She had just stepped from
the elevator the first floor when the
body alighted on the beam in the shaft.
Miss McRae said she knew of no one who
saw Mr.. Willett fall.
DIR. Carr said he had been told that Mr.
Nillett had STEPPED aside TO allow lady
to pass and he supposed she was that lady.
Witness said she had also heard MIR. VIII
lett had met his death in stepping out of
the way, but she repeated She was on the
first floor when he fell
Heard an Alarm.
l.. G. Robey, Laurel, Md, employed in
the cabinet shop of the Treasury Depart
ment, testified that he was at work IN the
post office, boxing furniture, Saturday
morning, when he fatal accident occurred
lie was standing near the elevator, when
he hard somebody say Look out and
just then Mr. Miilett came down the shaft
Witness asked il il was necessary TO
remove the doors in order To put on the
furniture, and he said he did not know.
The gates, he said, go in socket, and lie
thought by removing the gates there would
be space of only about two inches addi-
tional. He thought it was hardly necessary
to remove the gates, but there Were other
men who probably knew more about it
than himself.
Witness was asked If he thought the bar
ricade at the elevator was sale one, and
he said he preferred not to answer the
question.
Il think eighteen inches is not sufficient
for such an opening" remarked Juror Judd.
Conductor of Elevator Testifes.
James E. Dubois, conductor of the pas
senger elevator on the 11th street side of
the building testified that he took Mr. VIII
lett up on his elevator. Mr.. Willett was
going to the fifth floor, but he changed his
mind and said he would get off at the
fourth floor to go to the salary and allow
ance division. After letting Mr. Willett off
witness said he took the elevator to the
sixth floor and then returned to the lower
floor. Mr.. Willett fell through the shaft
just as his elevator reached the first floor.
would Mr.. Willett have had time to go
to the fifth floor before your elevator reach
ed the first fioor?"
He could have gone up there" answered
witness, las my elevator goes slowly
Witness said he thought the barricade
was pretty good warning to people.
"Was it necessary to remove the elevator
doors?" asked a juror.
81 understand it was