Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-07
Coroner's Jury Determines Cause Of
A, Z. Williams Death.
BETTER PROTECTION FOR OPEN CARS
Recommendation That Companies
Be Required to Provide Them.
OF WITNESSES

I'VE, the coroner's jury, recommend that
all street railroad companies be required
to place bars or other protection on the
track side of open cars" This was por-
ton of a verdict rendered today by jury
consisting of John Holmes E. l.. Robinson.
VIM. Wolf, Gustav Linke, John H. Craw
ford and Samuel Linke, impaneled by Coro-
ner hewitt to inquire into the death of the
late Albert K. Williams. The inquiry was
held at the sixth precinct station house.
After hearing the testimony of witnesses
to the occurrence the jury found that Mr..
Williams death was due to accident. 1t
added the recommendation above quoted in
view of the fact that Mr.. Williams had
fell across the south-bound track in front
of coming train. He tried to get up but
failed to do so before he was hit.
Assistant Coroner Glazebrook described
the character of the injuries Mr.. Williams
received. and said death was due to hemor-
rhage, caused by the complete crushing
of his lower limbs. This closed the testi-
mony, and after a few minutes delibera-
ton the verdict rendered as stated.
Physician the First Witness.
Mr. Williams was killed Tuesday night by
an electric train on the 9th street branch
of the Metropolitan railroad at 9th and h
streets northwest. DR.. Arthur M. Nc
Nance of 9OS Rhode Island avenue the
first witness testified that he was standing
on the back platform of a rear car OF a
9th street train going north about $50
Tuesday night, when he saw man lying
on the south-bound track face down. The
man raised himself to his knees and witness
heard some one cry out warning. Whle
the man was still on his knees the fender
of a south-bound car struck him and rolleo
him over several times, and then MS pooy
went under the car. Witness joined large
crowd that gathered and endeaVored to as
sist in raising the Witness did not
see the man until he was on his face. VIII
ness thought the south-bound car was
Stacking up when the man was struck. Wit
ness thought the mOtorman of the SOUTH
bound car gave the warning cry and that
he was trying to stop his car
Wesley Cooper, colored. of Sligo. Md,
who lives on Fenwicks farm. testified that
he was getting on the left side of a south
bound car on 9th street at K street and
saw get off the north-bound car and
step about four feet in front of the fender
of the south-bound car. Witness boarded
his car while it was in motion, and about
the time it struck the man it was Stacked
up. The north-bound train was standing
still when the man stepped off on the in
side and started across the south-bound
track. Witness was positive the man was
standing erect when he was struck, as II
he had Just seen the south-bound car COM
ing on MIN, ana stopped, intending 10 go
back; did not hear any signal either by bell
or voice before the man was struck. The
front wheel of the car went over him. The
car stopped as soon as the man was struck.
Was Aboard the Car.
Henry H. Boyle of 1918 Sth street north
west testified that he was in the fourth
seat of the motor car which struck Mr..
Williams. Saw the north-bound car slow
ing up as if to stop at X street, and then
saw a dark streak coming across in front
of the south bound car. The motorman CT
some one hallooed, Look out and put
down the brakes with considerable force.
Witness did not Mr.. Williams alight
from the north-bound car. After the car
struck the man it was stopped within a
few feet as it was going very slow when it
struck him. When the man was struck
the north-bound and south bound cars
were, witness thought, in the act Of pass
ing each other.
John Cowley, colored, of 461 n street
northwest was at the northwest corner of
9th street and New York avenue when the
accident occurred. Saw man lying on
the south track and the car strike him. Did
not know how the man got on the ground.
The car that struck him was not going
very fast.
Aleck Walker also coored, of 400 Sd
street northwest testified that he was on
the car that Mr.. Williams got off from.
The car was standing still when Mr.. Will
liams alighted. Witness was seated two
seats behind him in the open rear car of the
train. When Mr.. Williams stepped off he
fell forward on his face. Witness saw the
south-bound coming, and waved to it,
and the motorman tried to stop the car
The car from which Mr.. Williams alighted
had not started when he stepped Off He
was standing on the ground when he fell
across the south-bound track. The south
bound car was going at a moderate rate
when it struck Mr.. Williams. The latter
fell before the fender of the south bound
car reached him. Witness did not see Mr.
Williams make any attempt to get up. The
car went about ten feet after striking Mr.
Williams. Witness, in reply to a juryman
said he didn't think the motorman had
time to stop his car in the time which
elapsed between Mr.. Williams falling and
the accident.
Heard Cutlery.
o. B. Brown of 1i69 It'll street northwest,
testified to being on the north-bound train
OH the front car, which was an open one
and seated on the east side in the
front seat of the when he heard
sound as If a heavy cane had struck the
concrete. There was an outcry, and next
thing witness knew was the accident hap
pened. When the cane fell the north bound
car was in very slight motion, if any.
Did not see the man until he was under
the south bound car.