The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-02
VICTIM OF CARELESSNESS
Enquiry Into the Cause of the Death
of MOtOrman Anderson.
A Coroner's Jury Holds the Wash
ington and Great Falls Electric
Railroad Company Responsible
Employees Accused of Criminal Neg
Iigence-Testimony in the Case.

A jury of enquiry met at the Fifth pre-
cinct police station yesterday morning to
determine the responsibility for the death
of Joseph NJ. Anderson. the motorman who
was fatally injured in a collision near Glen
Echo junction a week ago yesterday. An
derson died at the Georgetown University
Hospital last Thursday Before the en-
quiry began the jury visited Mitchells I'M
dertaking establishment and viewed the
body of the dead motorman. After hearing
the testimony of number of witnesses
the jury rendered verdict to the effect
that Anderson's death was the result of
an accident on the Washington and Great
Falls Electric Railroad. The verdict con-
cludes:
There was criminal carelessncss displayed by
the employees If the company in ordering Conduc
tor Calvert TO both and west the
same track, THIS ieopardizing the lives Of their
passengers We, the jurors, therefore hold the
Washington and Great Falls Electric Railroad
Company responsible for the death CT Joseph u.
Anderson.
The funeral of the deceased will take
place at O'clock this afternoon from the
residence of his sister 3os Street north
east. The interment will be at Congress
sional Cemetery. There were present ct
the enquiry beside Coroner hewitt and
Acting Deputy Coroner Fisher, States
Attorney II. Maurice Talbot, of Montgom-
cry County, Md, representing the interests
of the county; Attorney Edwin G. Miles,,
for the relatives of the dead Inotorman;
Attorney George P. Hoover, for the rail-
road company, and Attorney John Drew
for some of the men who figured in the
accident
The first witness examined was F. C.
Calvert. employed as a conductor by the
Metropolitan Railway Company. He was
the conductor of the car that figured In
the collision. He testified that when his
car neered Glen Echo Junction he saw
several cars on the track ahead of him,
and was informed that car was off the
track at the switch. He was given orders,
he said, to return to the District line and
switch to the eastbound track, on which
the smashup occurred. His instructions
were, he said. to run both ways on the
eastbound track until he received further
orders
The witness detailed TO the jury the
movements of his car and the transfer of
his passengers. He said he took every
precautiou possible. When his car neared
Glen Echo, going west on the eastbound
track, he stopped in the vicinity of the
curve and told his motorman he would
go ahead and see if the track was Gear
intending to flag any car that might be
approaching. Before he could flag this
car it crashed into his. He explained
that he received Instructions from the men
who were at work on the derailed car
One Of them vas Mr. Baker who had
been employed as a starter. He did not
know Mr.. Bakers position, but thought
he was q sub-boss. Witness said he re-
ceived an injury to his leg, which was
dressed at the Georgetown Hospital He
then went home sick ard went to bed. He
was sent for Monday and was dismissed
In answer 10 a question the witness faid
he was under orders, ard that he was not
told not TO come back on that track before
starting on the return trip. The witness
said he old not know there was car on
the track between Cabin John Bridge and
Glen Echo. His motorman reversed when
the other car came In sight but II was
too late 10 5void the collision.
John F. Beall. motorman on Conductor
calverts car, testified that Calvert re-
ceived orders at Glen Echo junction to re-