The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-01
MANY LAWYERS PRESENT.

y
The inquiry was conducted by Coroner
r. w. Sparftnx. with the assistance OF Dep
uty Prosecuting Attorney Walter 8. Fu-
tor. ard lasted all the afternoon. The jury
was irnpaneletl at 1919 o'clock In tho morn
Ing. but spent the forenoon In making a
visit 90 the sceEe Of the collision. In the
afternoon large number of witnesses
were called and vigorously catechised by
Mr. Fulton under direction of the COR
oner. A hummer OF we'll known lawyers.
retained by the TWO corporations. were
present during the inquest. but were not
allowed To take part In the examination
Of the witnesses. Coroner Sparkling laying
down an iron-clad rule against such a
course.
Tho lawyers. in view Of the probable
effect of the corJners Jury verdict on
future damage suits growing out of the
accident. were very anxious TO ask the
witnesses questions, but made no attempt
TO do no after the coroner forbade them.
The Inquest was conducted I'm a base
ment room beneath the morgue where
. i:ro, s body body lay Coroner sparling pre-
the jury. At his right hand sat Mr.. Ftii-
tom and at hie left the official ssenograph.
er. IN FROM. Of him stenographer en-
ployed by the railway companies found
scanty room for his note book and PEN
ellis. The representatives OF tho daily
newspaper. sat wherever they could
md room and jo,tsd down their notes OF
the proceedings without desk accommoda-
tons for the most part. A table was
brought into the inaukltorial chamber
from an adjoining room and placed at
their disposal, but Coroner aparling
promptly ordered Il removed presumably
as prejnaicial 20 the high dignity OF his
Office Possibly he feared the judicial at
snosphere Of the room would be polluted
by his allowing any other than the furn.-
ture necessary for his personal comfort
and accommodation to remain
MOTORMAN SHARP On THE STAND,
Notormau Sharp was the first witness
called. He testified substantially a. fol-
lows: Il an 81 years OF age and have
worked as mofornan fer the Grant Street
Electric Railway Company for about IF
teen months On the morning OF the col.
lision we were behind time. but were no,
running al higher rate Of speed than
tRual Of mornings. We were about IA
feet from the crossing wnen / frsf saw
the train. had turned OF the current
and was beginning To set the brakes for
the usual stop before I saw the train.
heard no whistle or bell
Gars are generally stopped ten or
twelve feet from the crossing The car
WAS running about four miles an hour
The track was click ard she began 20
cup. l reversed her. bat she sid forward
sixty or seventy feet To the crossing with
her wheels spinning backwards Train
was about 10 feet from crossing when I
nrst saw II. Ii is impossible To see /, any
FARTHER ny the track Train was then
running eight or len miles an hour II
was not until ! was within forty fee, ~
The train thar | saw taas collision Was
inevitable The track was very slippery
on accom-. Of the drixxling rain. I knew
mat this was the case, bat did not realize
u with fah fore. until I began 10 try 20
stop my car. I never had my ear slip
over tne crossing before.
When the car was about 20 strike I