Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09


the Emergency Hospital and testified as to
the wound on the left side of the latter s
head. He said there was no doubt that
Capt. Ayres' death was a result of this
wound.
Deputy Coroner L. W. Glazebrook testi
fed that he viewed the body of the de-
ceased at his late residence this morning
Death, he said was due to cerebral hem
orrhage following a fracture at the base
of the skull.
john Shankln. colored of 1924 De Sales
street saw the accident from a distance
He declared he saw a tumble of street
car. delivery wagon and bicyclist. He
knew Capt. ANres by sight. Witness did
not know at the time whether the wagon or
car struck the captain. His testimony was
vague and of little value. Neither wagon
nor bicy cliSt was moving rapidly
William J. Rabbit of 26i5 X street gave
an intelligent account of the accident. He
was riding along Connecticut avenue in
wagon and saw all of the affair. Rupert
in his delivery wagon, witness said, was
driving IN slow trot west on l. street
As the wagon reached Connecticut avenue
a north-h0und car passed. Rupert drove
behind this. and just as his wagon was
clearing the south-hound tracks of the
metropolitan line Capt Ayres. on his
wheel, riding south on the right-hand side
close alongside the tracks. crashed into
the -shafts. Just in frCnt of the front wheels
A South-bound car had stopped Just north
of l. street to take on passengers Cant
Ayres was riding with this car. and was in
a position. Mr.. Rabbit declared where he
could neither see the Rupert wagon nor
De seen by the driver of that vehicle
when the collision occurred" Mr. Rab-
bit continued, the horse driven by Mr..
RUPERT became frightened and lunped for
yard put was stopped after few jumps
Capt Ayres was dragged to the curb |
assisted the others in doing all we cou1d
for the injured man"
In a Slow Trot.
Was Mr.. Rupert driving fast?"
lie was driving in slow trot, and it
appeared to me that as soon as he saw
the bicyclist he did everything in his power
to stop his horse. Both wheels of the
wagon went over Capt. Ayres' right arm"
Mason Smith. colored. of 1870 l. street,
was riding with Mr.. Rupert when the
lattcrs wagon was in collision with Capt
Ayres. Smiths testimony was unintelligi-
bic, II appearing that the boy was too ex-
cited at the time of the accident to remem-
her any of the details. He was excused
after a number of fruitless questions BIZ the
coroner, Mr.. Tobriner and members of the
jury.
Jack Cole, colored. who works at 1916
Connecticut avenue. gave account of the
accident differing materially in detail from
the evidence of previous witnesses. He de-
ciared the Rupert wagon struck Capt
Ayres' bicycle. AS the two vehicles APP
preached. he said, Capt. Ayres swerved to
the right. and had passed in front of the
him. When he saw Capt. Ayres pass in
front of the horse witness thought the
seemingly inevitable collision had been
avoided He was surprised, therefore
when a moment later Capt. Ayres was be-
ing dragged, with his wheel, beneath the
wagon. The horse was frightened. the
witness declared, and could not have been
stopped in time to prevent the accident
Cole was positive Capt. Ayers had passed
in front Of the horse and apparently had
room to clear the wagons wheels.
Israel Dorsey. colored of Chicago, who is
visiting this city; Joseph Fisher of BOG 9th
street northeast: Theodore Krake of 122I
lst street. and Andrew Ferguson of 1140
New Hampshire avenue were examined,
but their testimony threw no light on the
accident, all having arrived upon the scene
after the collision had taken place Fer
guson, however, said he saw wagon and
bicycle a moment before the accident and
felt a collision could not be avoided
The Drivers Story.
William Rupert. driver and owner of
the wagon with which Capt. Ayers collided.
was the last witness. After being sworn.
ne stated his residence was at 18th street
ana benning road. He then told his story:
1 was driving west on the right side of
l. street. AS approaC he'd Connecticut ave-
nue. a car passed north going to Georgetown
and another. sOuthbound stopped to take
On passengers. AS the northbound car
cleared l. street l drove behind it, The
wagon was moi going fast, the horse was in
httie jog. The first | saw of Capt Ayres
was when he ran dead into the horse | was
driving. Before could stop the wagon had
passed over him."
w htn did you first see Capt. Ayres?"
asked the coroner.
Not until he struck the horse" the wit
ness repeated.
SApt. Ayres, lie said was riding either
upon or very close to the southbound Metro
politan track on Connecticut avenue His
wheel struck the right shaft of the wagon.
about midway.
Then Capt. Ayres did not swerve in
'front.' OF your horse, as witness has
Stated?'
No. sir. 1t would have been impossible
tor MIN TO have done 50. The nor thfat,rd
car prevented US from seeing each other
This closed the testimony, and after q