Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
AT TACHES NO BLAME
Verdict Of Jury in Case of Martin L.
Donaldson.
DIED WHILE PERFORMING His DUTY
Lineman Who Came in Contact
With a Live Wire.
T HE EVIDENCE VEN

THE EVIDENCE VEN
The coroner's jury in the case of Martin
L. Donaldson, the District lineman who
was killed at 32d and NJ streets Tuesday
afternoon, at which time, 1t is believed, he
| received an electric shock and was thereby
| caused to fall to the sidewalk, returned
! verdict that the deceased came to his death
while in the performance off his duties. The
jury did not attach blame to anybody, nor
were any recommendations made, but found
that he came in contact with live wire
| that caused him to fall and receive a frac-
ture of the skull.
The inquest was held at the undertaking
establishment of j. William Lee, Attorney
Charles II. Merillat appearing in the inter-
ests of the relatives of the deceased The
electric light company was represented by
Mr.. George Hoover.
Repairman's Testimony.
Thomas Parker, a repairman in the Dis
trlct telephone and fire alarm service, told
the jury of an investigation that was made
after the fatal accident occurred. Witness
said the electric light men also assisted.
They traced the wires up the canal road
and found where a clock wire crossed the
eiectTlC HSnl wires Inc former wire con-
meets with the clock in Georgetown College.
Witness gave the details of the investiga-
ton and said the clock wire was connected
with the Western Union office, at 14th and
r streets. That wire, the witness said, was
not properly put up and it sagged that
1t came in contact with the electric light
wires. Witness said the clock wire was not
insulated.
What kind of a wire was the electric
light wire?" the witness was asked.
1t was an insulated wire he answered.
but the insulation was worn through.
The witness added that the clock wire re-
ferred to was about four or five inches from
the patrol wire. Witness said he could not
tell If it were possible for the current to be
transmitted that distance from one wire to
another. The cutting of the clock wire he
said, relieved the patrol service. He thought
the accident would have been avoided If the
electric light wire had been properly insu-
lated Witness said he knew very little
about electric light currents
Near Lfneman When He Fell.
Orlando Lee colored. 1907 26th street,
Georgetown, testified that he was near the
pole when the lineman fell. His body came
near striking witness. He said he saw
Donaldson when he went up the pole Wit
ness was near the pole when the lneman's
body struck the pavement, his legs striking
witness when the body rebounded. The
lineman's hands were badly burned and he
was also marked and bleeding
Witness went into store and had the
proprietor telephone for a wagon. Donald
son, he said was brea thing when he was
put on the stretcher and taken to the hos
pital. lady, who was the scene of
the accident, poured water on the dying
man.
William T. Malloy, n lineman in the en-
p!oy of the District, testified that he was
working with Donaldson the day of the ac-
c:dent. They We're sent out to investigate
trouble on the seventh precinct patrol
wires Their investigation showed that
fhar u-nc l.,
Aqueduct bridge When they reached 32d
and NJ streets Donaldson climber the pole
and witness saw him shaking the wires
The next thing he knew Donaldson was on
the ground.
Donaldson, the witness told the jury was
wearing buckskin gloves at the time the ac-
cident occurred and they We're burned
through.
Was Donaldson supplied with rubber
Gloves the witness was asked.
mo. sir" answered Malloy.
Witness said he had done similar work
before and had received slight shocks a
number of times but was never hurt He
said he has pair of rubber gloves but he
never uses them. He did not see the cross
ed wires. Donaldson, he said. was on the
pole shaking out crosses at the time he re-
ceived the shock Western Union and Dis
trict wires, he said. can be handled with
out rubber gloves, but it is not so with high
voltage wires.
Leather Gloves No Protection.
Witness said that leather gloves are TO
protection III the handling of high voltage
wires. When the hands perspre he said,
the gloves will act a conductor. He
said that most Of the electric light wires
up the canal road poorly insulated.
He thought the regulations require the
wires TO be properly protected. Donald
sons fall. he was satisfied. was due to an
electric shock. The ordinary life of insula-
ton. he said, is about six months.
Aal
that ne saw Donaldson before he reached
the sidewalk from the pole. After Donald
son struck the pavement he gave gasp.
Witness noticed that the lineman's right
hand was burned. He thought Donaldson
really dead before he reached the sidewalk.
Robert Smock, colored, testified that he
saw the lineman when he went up the poe,
and saw him shake one wire and then take
hold of another. When he shook the Sec
ond wire he got shock and fell Smock
went to his assistance and he told of how
others helped the injured man. Witness
said he saw the lineman gasp three times
before he was picked up. He held his head
until some water was thrown in his face
1t was after the water was thrown that he
gasped. At the time the accident happened
Donaldson had one hand on the wire and
the other on the pole
Superintendent Simpson Testifes.
James c. Simpson, superintendent of the
District telephone and fire-alarm service,
testified that Tuesday morning, when he
reached the office, he noticed a report that
the seventh precinct patrol service had
been burned out Martin Donaldson was
one of the men sent out to locate the trou-
BILE. About 1890 o'clock Donaldson tele-
phoned that live wire crossed other wires
and caused the break. Witness said their
finding was enough to put them their
guard and give them notice that they
should take extra precautions He said |
the District furnishes the men nothing to
use for protection against such occur !
rences; that this was the first trouble of
the kind that has occurred with his force. |
Rubber gloves he thought, would have |
been a protection.
After the accident occurred witness de- |
tailed men to make an investigation. Yes
terday witness traced the clock wire to the |
observatory of the Georgetown University, |
and found 1t near the Potomac feed wire in !
some places. Witness went to the univer- |
sity and found that the wires there had |
been burned and some of the woodwork
had been charred.
Mr.. Simpson was questioned at length |
about electric wires and he said the life of |
a good insulation is not more than four or |
five years. He said he knew of no law or |
regulation governing the positions of wires |