The times., 1899-10-03


The jury summoned by Coroner Carr
to investigate the circumstances surround
| ing the death of James p. Willett former
| city postmaster, yesterday, returned yer-
dict Of accidental death. No one was he'd
| responsible for criminal negligence, but
the jury expressed the opinion that Super
intendent Reed, who had been in charge
of the postofice building, committed an
error in judgment in not having provided
more efficient barricades across the en-
frances to the elevator shafts. The fol-
| lowing is the verdict:
We find that James P. Willett died in
| the city postoffice building September 80,
1899, from injuries received by an acciden-
tai fall down the elevator shaft.
we find that the barrcade placed at
the elevator doors was not safe protec-
tion, and that the accident was due to an
error in judgment on the part of the super
intendent of the building, MIR. Reed. We
do not hold him criminally responsible,
but would insist that a watchman be plac-
ed hereafter, at each door until the doors
are permanently replaced, and that the at
tention of the Superintendent OF Buildings
and Grounds be called TO the matter with
a view of preventing similar accidents in
the future
The jurors assembled at the First pre-
cinct station at II O'Clock yesterday morn
ing and were Immediately taken in the
patrol wagon to view the remains, which
had been removed to the home of Robert
Willett, a brother of the deceased, living
at 3014 P Street northwest.
After the jury returned TO the Station
the work of examining the witnesses was
commenced.
The inquest did not develop any definite
facts concerning the manner in which Mr..
Willett fell down the shaft. There were
several witnesses who saw him either in
the descent or Immediately after the body
reached the bottom of the shaft. 1t could
not be learned whether he fell from the
fourth or fifth floor.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook, who exam
ined the remains after the accident, was
first heard He testified that neither the
back or neck OF Mr.. Willett had been
broken, and that death was, in all prob
ability, due to internal injuries which pro-
dueed hemorrhage. n. ]. Himrod. who is
employed by the Merchants Parcel Deliy-
cry Company to superintend the moving
of furniture into the building, was next
called and stated that shortly after
O'Clock Saturday morning he had gone to
the freight elevator TO arrange for taking
some furniture to one Of the upper floors.
He found the elevator loaded and just
about 10 start upward when Mr.. Willett's
body came down the shaft, striking and
balancing upon the cross beam at the top
of the car. Shortly afterward Himrod
sent a man to see II the barricades on the
upper floors were in position. The man
reported that they were.
Mr.. Himrod stated that In order TO get
some of the larger pieces OF furniture into
the freight elevator it was necessary to
take down some o! the doors and that the
authority to do this was granted by Mr.
Reed, the chief engineer. who cautioned
the men 10 be careful in placing the doors
before the openings when the elevator was
rot at a floor diseharging load. The wit
ness had taken particular pains to see
that the entrances to the shaft were always
safely baTricaded.
Charles r. Trotter a clerk In the Post
Office Department. was next called: He
saw the body fall when approaching the
fourth foor. He noticed that the door TO
the shaft was in place before the entrance.
Miss Annie MeRae had just arrived at the
first floor in the passenger elevator when
the body came down the shaft She was
unable to say from what floor it fell
James E. Blois 81 C Street southeast
conductor in charge of the passenger ele-
vator in the Twelfth Street side, in which
Mr.. Willett went up before his fatal
plunge, testified that Mr.. Willett entered
the car ar about $40 o'clock Mr. Willett
first asked to be taken to the fifth foor
but changed his mind and got out at the
fourth floor.
Mr.. Blois then proceeded upward, stop
ped at the fifth floor and allowed a passen-
ger to get out. He then went to the sixth
floor where Miss McRae entered the car.
He then went down to the first floor and
was just opening the door when the body
struck the freight elevator in the adjoin-
ing shaft. Mr.. Willett would have had time
to ascend to the fifth floor, stated the wit
ness, about two minutes elapsed from
the time he left Mr.. Willett at the fourth
floor until his arrival at the first.
After the last witness testified the jury
then went to the postoffiee building, and
made an inspection of the scene of the acci-
dent. The verdict was determined upon af-
ter about half hours deliberation.