Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-15
Investigation Concerning Death Of
Charles Musson.
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH
Testimony Detailing Particulars Of
the Electrocution.
OW NERS HIP OF WIRES

The hearing in the case of Charles P.
Musson. the boy who was electrocuted
while gathering mulberries on the line of
the Washington and Great Falls railway
near Harlem. Wednesday, was resumed this
morning by Coroner hewitt. The jury as
sembied at the sixth precinct station. in
stead of in Georgetown. as was the case
yesterday. Several witnesses were exam
med. and the jury returned a verdict Of
accidental death.
Location of the Wires.
Mace McKenney, owner of the property
where the fatal accident occurred, ex-
planned to the jury that he sold the right
of way through his property to the Great
Falls Railroad Company about seven years
ago. Witness said he sold 1t a strip of
"a feet and later he sold an additional
strip of three feet on either side of the
road. He said he does not know exactly
where the line is between his property and
that of the railroad company. Witness
never gave the company the privilege of
stretching wires over his property. The
wires in question, he thought. were over
his property. Coroner hewitt called the at
tention of the witness to the mulberry
tree, and the latter said he did not know
any limbs had ever been cut from it.
Did you ever object to the wires being
stretched between the limbs of the tree?"
inquired Juror Moore.
Mr.. Drew, counsel for the family of the
deceased boy, presented drawing showing
the location of the companys wires. He
endeavored to show that the wire was over
the property belonging to the witness. In
this connection Attorney Cole, for the rail-
road company, said the question of the To-
cation of the wires had no bearing on the
case so far as the inquest was concerned,
while 1T might be admissible legal proof
in an action for damages.
Witness said he made measurements and
found the poles Of the company were ~
feet 3 inches apart. The top Of the pole,
he thought. leaned about three feet over
toward his property. No request was ever
made OF witness to cut the mulberry tree
down. He had never protested against the
boys enjoying themselves on his property.
He had seen boys in the mulberry tree be-
fore. but had never said anything to them.
Noted Flashes of Fire.
E. B. Douglass, resident of Harlem, also
gave testimony concerning the measure
ments made yesterday. The day after the
fatal accident happened witness said he no.
ticed flash of fire every time leaves Of
the mulberry tree came in contact with the
wire. Witness said the deceased was his
nephew.
Charles D, Cornwell testified that he
climbed the mulberry tree the day after
the occurrence and saw flesh on the cleo
trio wire. The insulation was worn on the
wire at several places. Witness saw seven
electric wires there and two telephone
wires. The electric wires were Of differ
ent sizes. and the flesh was on wire Of
medium size. He said the wire on which
he saw the flesh had been rubbed by one
of the branches Of the tree.
DR.. Hunter testified that when he was
called to the house the boy was dead. The
boys hand and face were burned.
Electrical Engineers Testimony.
Phlander Belts. an electrical engineer,
i6o5 hat no adau
to make an examination of the wires at
the scene of the accident. All the wires
there carrying a high voltage were in ex-
cellent condition. They were insulated
and practically in the condition they were
when they were put up. There were no
large limbs near enough to cause much
injury to the wires. Witness said he took
an electrical course in college, and had
worked continuously at the business since
1890. For more than four years witness
was chief electrician at the navy yard. The
Insulation on the wires in question, the
witness said. Is such as is used on most
similar wires throughout the country.
Under ordinary circumstances the insula
ton on the wires is considered safe.
The Voltage Carried.
After recess S. I. Folsom, until few
days ago superintendent of overhead light
ing and now in charge Of substations for
the electric light companies Of the Dis
trict. gave testimony concerning the sew
eral wires on the poles near the mulberry
tree. Two of the wires, he said, carried a
voltage of from 200 to 2,4OO. There were
two uncovered dead wires, but the live
wires were all covered. Witness thought
the boy would have had to reach out to
have caught hold of the wires. He saw
no ripe berries on the tree. Witness sup
erintended the putting up Of the wires,
and at that time the limbs in the way
where the wires were strung were cut
away. The insulation on the wires in ques-
ton is what is known as weather-proof
covering.
On one Of the 5O0-volt wires, witness said,
the insulation was somewhat worn. There
was no trouble with the insulation of the
other wires. A wire carrying voltage of
800 he thought was not dangerous. as he
had received shocks from such wires.
Coroner hewitt told the jury that he
made a superficial examination Of the body
of the boy. He concluded from his ex-
animation of the body that the injuries
about the boys face were abra sions and