The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-17
KINGS DEATH AN ACCIDENT
Nothing Tending to Prove Foul Play
Found by the Coroner. Jury.

1
a verdict was yesterday retuynrI By a
! coroners jury in the case of 10, sph A.
/ King, carpenter, who resided at f -a ems
burg, and who met death as the result OF
F., injuries received at the corner o. Fifth
and Streets northeast early Sunday
morning. Investigation has occur.ed sew
eral days, and led to testimon! ST the
hearing yesterday, which result in a
verdict of accidental death, = .oilows
''We, the jury. find that Joseph a. King
| came to his death at the Casually doFpital
| Sunday last from cerebral hemorrhage,
| the result Of fall over ladders lying near
/ the curb in. front of house 513 II Street
! northeast We further note from the
testimony that the distractions referred TO
| were not properly lighted, as required by
law. and we recommend that section :.
Article VIII, of the Police Regulations OF
the District of Columbia be more rigidly
enforced.
The inquest ever the remains of King
was begun last Monday afternoon. 1t was
! then continued pending complete investi-
CATION Of the case by the Police Depart
ment. Since the preliminary hearing De-
tectives Muller and Baur and Policemen
Nison, Williams, and Raedy, attached to
the Ninth precinct station, have been at
work on the case. mystery appeared 70
surround the matter. 1t was held by son e
that King, while intoxicated, fell over two
large ladders belonging to painters which
had been placed on the curb at the corner
mentioned. Testimony adduced at the
hearing Monday threw doubt upon this
theory. 1t was then thought that King
might have been murdered. Color was
given to this suggestion by the fact that
he was penniloss when found, notwith-
standing he had received 500 from his eEn-
ployer the night before. To clear up this
doubt the inquest Monday was adjourned
until yesterday.
There was no additional evidence yes,
terday tending to show that King met
foul play. The hearing began at 3 o'clock
at the Sixth precinct station. Dr. Jamss
e. Bliss, residing at SOC H Street north
east who testified Monday. had nothing
new to offer. His attention was first
called to King by Mrs. Bliss, who heard
him groaning from across the street.
Witness finally went out, placed Kings
coat under his head and then blew police
whistle. Several railroad men we're COM
ing along Street and they stopped to
question the injured man. Bliss under
stood King to state that his name was
Taylor
Frank Hale, carpenter, who WORKED
with and was paid with King on Saturday
King to several saloons on Seventh Street
northwest. Each drank about seven glasses
OF beer. They went TO a barber shop.
were shaved, and shortly afterward parted
at the corner OF Seventh and ID Streets
northwest King and Hale were employed
by John F. Lynch, a contractor.
Mr.. Lynch gave testimony yesterday.
He stated that he gave King $50 last Sat
urday night. Witness did not see King
al ha1
sober. efficient workman
Detective Muller said he had been un-
able to fird any trace tending to show
foul play IN the case lie had been unable
to trace the movements OF King after the
latter parted with Hale Saturday night at
the corner of Seventh and D Streets north
west until he was found early Sunday
morning. A picture of King had been
shown in many places without result
witness had not been able to find anyone
who had seen King after o'clock Satur-
day night
Bartholomew P. Riordan, conductor of
the Columbia Railway. residing al 122 G
Street northeast. was accompanied BIZ /
William Emerson. Il motorman. and was (
on his way home Sunday morning from tine /
car barn of the road. at the corner OF Fif- /
teenth and II Streets northeast when his |
attention was attracted by the blowing of /
the police whistle by DR.. Bliss. King was /
lying beside two ladders when he came 4
up. He WAS conscious and stated that he /
had fallen over the ladders Emerson I
testified to the same effect.
Policeman Williams testified to tie in /
vestigation Of the case. He had been un-
able to trace Kings movements during
night He had been unable to
learn where any Of the $40 received by
King had been spent, but had failed to
ind aQy circumstances tending to urt.ya
hat there had been foul play This closed
the testimony aud the jury returned a
verdict as stated.