Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-31
POLE WAS ROTTEN
What Caused the Death of William
G. Copp.
VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY
Evidence of Witnesses Submitted
at the Inquest Today.
BODY TAKEN TO STRASBURG

An inquest was held at J. William Lee
undertaking establishment this morning
over the remains of William C. Copp, the
trimmer who was killed Wednesday by the
collapse of pole upon which he was work
ing at the Baltimore and Ohio depot.
Messrs. Eugene D. and Charles F. Carusi
of the law firm Of Eugene Carusi & Sons
were present in the interest of the family of
the deceased The railroad company was
not represented by counsel.
Several witnesses were examined and the
jury returned a verdict that Copp came to
his death by the breaking of a thoroughly
rotten pole upon which he was working.
The body Of Copp was taken to Stras-
burg, Va, yesterday afternoon for inter-
ment.
An Eyewitness.
James BrosEan, 902 Delaware avenue
northeast, testified that he witnessed the
fatal accident Wednesday morning. He
said he was about 200 feet from the scene
when he heard a noise. Looking on the
railroad tracks he saw the young man be-
meath the pole. Witness assisted in remov-
ing the pole and thought the man was dead,
but after he had been taken over into the
shade he heard him groan.
II picked up pieces of the pole" said wit
ness land powdered them in my hand"
Did you examine the pole?"
Yes SIR
What was it's condition."
1t was rotten all the way through"
Witness said he thought there were three
wires on the pole, and fearing they were
live ones he called to the men who were
assisting The injured man to be careful.
The pole ne thought, was about thrty-five
or forty ieet long, and the break occurred
about even with the ground. So far as wit
ness could see there was no part of the
pole sound.
First Accident of the Kind.
w. d. Young, electrical engineer in the
employ of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, testified that this is the first ac-
cident Of the kind the company has ever
had. The falling of the pole opened the
circuit. Witness said he had charge of all
electric light matters for the company.
Witness saw the broken pole this morning.
In May of last year he said he sent gang
of men here to examine poles and replace
those unfit for service. The pole in ques-
ton. he said, was examined and passed.
Since the pole was originally set, he said
earth had been piled about 1t to depth Of
from fifteen to eighteen inches. This dirt
was put there before the inspection. After
ward the dirt was removed and the de-
cayed part of the pole was exposed.
Copp. he said was known as a trimmer.
The man under whom the trimmer worked,
lie said, is responsible for the electrical
work here. Every few years. the witness
said, workmen dig around the roes and
make a thorough inspection of them.
The ordinary life of a poe, said Mr..
Young, is about eight or ten years. He
said the pole was sound above and below
the break. Witness explained that the re-
moval of the dirt was the result of
change in the grade about the yard The
general practice. he said, is to rebuild lines
about every five or six years. Witness said
there was no way of determining the condi-
ton of the pole after the dirt was put
about it. The pole. he thought, was de-
cayed before the dirt was put there. 1t
was the duty of the trimmer. he said to
report any decayed conditions. Witness
said no report of the condition of the pole
had been received at the Baltimore office.
He said he had heard the claim made that
such report had been sent. but he knew
no such report had been received there.
Mr.. j. 7. Fritz, he tod the jury, had charge
of the electric work of the company at this
end of the line.
Reports of Changes.
When q change in grade about noIe Ia