Evening star., 1900-08-17
DEATH OF JOSEPH KING
CORONER.s JURY SAYS HE WAS AC-
CIDENTALLY INJURED.
Verdict That He Stumbled Over Lad
ders Left in Front of q
Residence.

The inuuest in the case of Joseph A. King,
began at the sixth precinct station Monday
morning was completed yesterday after
noon. Several additional witnesses were
examined. The most important testimony
was given by two railroad men. who ques-
toned King before he was removed to the
hospital. King told one of them that he
had been injured by stumbling over the
ladders left in front of the house by Mr..
Lane, No. 513 II street northeast The
jury concluded that King received his in
juries in that manner, and called attention
to the fact that the obstruction was there
without having lights on it.
DIR. James E. Bliss, who was examined
Monday, was recalled and he repeated part
of the testimony that he gave Monday.
He said his wife called his attention to
noise the street that was supposed to
have been made by man falling from
window. When he went out he found King
lying in the gutter Witness found the
mans hat and coat some distance from
him. He said two colored women and a
man passed along the street about the time
he went to his window A short distance
behind them came man, and witness
thought this man picked up King and
placed him his feet. 1t was possible, he
said. for some of the people in the crowd
to have asked King questions and for him
to have answered them without witness
hearing what was said.
When King Was Paid Of.
Frank Hale. carpenter living at Bal
ley's Cross Roads, testified that he was paid
off Saturday afternoon at the time King
was. They stopped work about 30 o'clock,
and went to saloon, where they had three
glasses Of beer together. At another sa-
loon they had two glasses. and then they
went 10 barber shop. King got a haircut
and shave. and witness got shaved. After
leaving the barber shop they had two
glasses of beer. seven glasses IN all, and
witness left him at Ith and ID streets about
$50 o'clock. King was not drunk when
witness left him, although he showed the
effects of the beer.
John +. Lynch. the contractor for whom
King worked testified that he paid King
so Saturday afternoon a week ago He
always considered King an honest hard
working and steady man.
Detective fuller testified that after he
was assigned to the case he got photo
graph of King. and visited bar rooms both
down town and in Northeast Washington
where he exhibited the picture. He was un-
able to find anybody who had seen King
after G::.G o'clock Saturday night.
Bartholomew P. Reardon, a conductor on
the Columbia lire. testified that he got off
his car and saw King lying in the gutter a
on the curb line.
Witness asked the injured man how he
got down there and he answered: II fell
over the ladders
King told witness that his name was Jo-
seph and that he lived at Hyattsville.
William Emerson, conductor on Motor
man Reardon's car. testified that he heard
the conversation between feardon and
King. 1t his belief that King under
stood what he was talking about
Edward Fiaherty's Statement.
Edward Flaherty in front of whose place
of business the pool of blood was found
testified to the condition of the pavement
and street. He gave testimony intended
to account for the condition of the injured
mans clothing.
Precinct Detective Williams told the jury
that he had been unable to ascertain from
where the fence paling found on the ladder
ha ] been taken.
Detective Muller when questioned by the
coroner, said it was a common occurrence
for intoxicated men to fall asleep in
park and get robbed. He was unable to
account for the disappearance of Kings
money.
Acting Coroner Glazebrook read to the
jury section : Of article of the police reg
ulations. relating to street distractions
Under this section owners of distractions
left on the street or sidewalk are required
to have them lighted at night