The Washington times., 1901-11-06
KILLED BY A STREET CAR
Albert X. Williams the Victim of
Frightful Accident.
WelI-known Local bookseller
Struck Down While on His Way
HOme-Wife In Ignorance of HIS
Dcnth-An Inquest to He Held.

4
Struck Down While His Wa,
HOme-Wife In Ignorance of HI,
Dcnth-An Inquest to he Held
On alightfng last night from north
bound electric street car of the Metropol
| itan Railroad, at Ninth and X Street.
| northwest, Albert X. Williams. ST., book
| seller. whose store Is at Sl3 G Stree
| northwest, known the city over as on
! of the oldest tradesmen in his line. wa
| struck and instantly killed by an electric
car going south on the opposite track
| Mr. Williams was knocked down, falling
under the southbound train, and his body
| was badly mangled by the heavy wheel:
| Of the car. No human aid was of avail
and his lifeless body was picked UP i'm
mediate.y following the accident.
| just a the time the ambulance from
| the Emergency Hospital was passing. az
| ter responding to a hurry call from the
bakery of Charles Schneider. where Car
| Schmidt. a helper, had met instant death
| in an elevator accident. The ambulance
was stopped. and into it the remains OF
Williams were placed, although death
had already taken place. At the hospita
the body was temporarily placed in the
morgue room.
Mr. Williams. witnessed by several per-
sons, took place shortly before O'Clock,
as the unfortunate man was return
ing from his store Yesterday, during
most of the day, Mr.. williams had been
engaged with business matters, pertain
ing principally to his trade in new and
secondhand books. Only within the past
few weeks had the stock contained within
the present establishment, on G Street.
been placed there. on the removal of the
| business from 721 Seventh Street north
west. where Mr.. Williams kept a store
for many years.
having attended the closing of the store
last night, and to other important mat
! ters, Mr.. Williams boarded a train going
north, on Ninth Street, en- route to his
home. at 1914 Tenth Street northwest.
This was about 1880 o'clock. After the
train made the stop at the junction at
New York Avenue, Mr.. Williams pushed
the bell button on the side of the car on
which he rode. as signal to the motor
man to stop at Street.
The train. accordingly. was slowed
down. but witnesses say had not been
brought to full stop. when Mr.. Williams
stepped, first to the rail-board. and then
to the ground, on the inside" or
at the left of the car, and next to the
southbound track. Just at this moment.
and as Mr. Williams took a step for
ward, intent on crossing the track a
train going south, in charge of John Talia-
ferro. conductor. and George Peyton,
motorman. moved rapidly down upon him.
1t is said by railroad officials that there
was no current on this car at the mo-
ment, but the sudden movement on the
part of Mr.. Williams was so entirely un-
expected by Motorman Peyton that he
was unable to stop in time to avoid the
fatal accident
Being heavy man, Mr.. Williams fell
with considerable force when the motor
car of the train struck him, and he seems
to have rolled beneath the wheels Motor
man Peyton did what he could to bring
his car to a standstill. and this was done
within few feet, although not before
Mr- Williams had been crushed to death.
His mangled remains were taken from
beneath the car as quickly as possible
and were removed to the hospital where
life was declared extinct Nothing then
remained to be done but notify relatives,
including the family of the dead man.
Coroner hewitt was informed of the
accident by Policeman Hibble. stationed
at the hospital, and the former made an
investigation of the accident. This en-
quiry Is YET incomplete, and an inquest
has been ordered in the case for tomor-
row morning at IL O'Clock. Policemen
Mellen and Cav, of the First precinct
station. took MotormaE 1Sy-..5: .,s.
Conductor Taliaferro into custody after
the accident last night, and the prisoners
were held until Coroner hewitt ordered
their release about 10 o'clock, pending
the result OF the Inquest
Within an hour after Blr. Williams had
met death. his son. Albert Williams jr
called at the hospital The young man
was almost overcome. From him il was
learned that Mrs. Williams is yet unaware
of the death of her husband, although
apprised that he had met with an acci-
dent and possibly was seriously Injur-
ed. On account of the condition of Mrs
Williams whose health. it is said. may be
endangered by sudden shock, news of the
termination of the accident was kept from
her for the night. She is now under care
of DR.. Alice Brosius. of Eleventh and X
Streets northwest, her regular physician.
Mrs Williams is a sufferer from heart
disease, according to friend of the fam
lily. and it is feared she may be serious
ly affected when news of her husbands
death is broken to her
No funeral arrangements were even
thought Of last night by the family of the
dead man. Elsewhere 1t was stated. how
ever, that the Scottish Rite Masons. of
which AIR. Williams was a member. would
probably take charge of ali matters per
tanning to the interment of the remains.
Probably no merchant in Washington,
and certainly no tradesman in books was
better known than Mr.. Williams A
N.
These children are Albert Williams. jr.
Robert and George Williams; Mrs. c. e.
Grumley. whose h lsband is employed at
the Government Pi hitting Office and Miss
Tina Williams. OF those named Robert
and George Williams assisted their father
in his store, while Albert Williams, jr,
is a mechanical craftsman. Mr.. Williams
was a Mason. a member of the Oldest In
habitaEts Society, and also connected
with the Choral Society. He was sixty
five years Of age.
For forty years Mr. Williams had lived
I'm this city. ever since the civil war. \
native of Sheldon. Vt, where he spent
resident of Illinois, and afterward citi-
zen of Washington. he was known to low
ers Of books far and wide. Few libraries
in this city which contain 1000 volumes
do not count among this number works
from the store over which Mr.. Williams
held ownership so long. At first, in a
small way, with store not far from the
Peace Monument. where he dispensed
books, new, and old. and Indifferent. {,
Senators. Representatives. and the com
mon people alike. and then into bigger
store; from a beginning at the bottom 10
the top of his line, on par with all
tradesmen. Mr.. Williams steadily rose.
Interesting, of even a striking personal
ity. and with an acquaintance with
ancient and modern books he dispensed
these to thousands of persons, and for
thousands of libraries.
During two years past Mr. Williams and
his family have lived at their present adj
dress. AT the age of eighteen Mr. Will
liams spent some time in Chicago. prior
to taking up his residence in this city
Mr. Williams was married here some
years after opening business in Washing
ton.