Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-18
THE SHOCK WAS FATAL
JAMES ARTHUR ACTON KILLED BY
ELECTRIC WIRE.
Dead BODY Was Found This Morning
in Frame Building Near Light
ing COmpany's Plant.

James Arthur Acton, twenty years old,
was killed by coming in contact with an
electric wire some time last night or this
morning in a small frame structure erected
against the outer wall of the plant of the
United States Electric Lighting Company,
at 13R and B streets northwest. His dead
body was found by Edward Spinner in the
little building this morning shortly after 6
o'clock, and was removed to the home of
his mother, No. 1421 D street. An inquest
will be held at the first precinct station at
IL o'clock tomorrow to determine, If posi-
BILE, just how the accident happened.
1t is not known at what hour the I'M
fortunate young man lost his life, but it is
believed it was between 1870 and o'clock.
He was last seen about that time. The
appearance of the body indicated that death
had taken place many hours before.
The box-like structure was evidently not
locked last night, for the door was open
when the body was found and there was
no evidence of breaking. 1t is stated that
the door had been broken open on previous
occasions, but for what reason does not
appear. There is nothing in there except
number of electric cables, which are in
use. The cables are insulated, but there
was one place where the lead covering
was exposed, and it is supposed this is
where the young man placed his hand and
received a fatal shock from the 1,OOO-volt
wire. Both hands were burned, and there
was also a hole through the sole of one
shoe, which looked like it might have been
made by an electric wire.
The deceased was son of the late
George T. Acton, who was in the police
patrol service a number of years ago, and
a nephew of Police Sergeant Joseph Acton
of the first precinct. The young man is
said to have been somewhat weak-minded
as the result of Illness from scarlet fever
and typhoid fever. Much of his time was
spent about the plant of the electric light
company, and he had constructed a minia-
ture plant of his own, which he believed
might be operated Some time ago he did
a weeks work cleaning brick when one of
the buildings was taken down. and earned
Y cents. Yesterday when he returned
home he said he had been promised an
other SimilaI position one of the big
buildings of the company is being taken
down to make room for a more modern
structure.
Arthur left home last night with his
brothers George and Grover. and went
with them to the Washington Light In
fantry armory, where a game of basket
ball was being played. His two brothers
remained to watch the players through the
side window. Arthur left them shortly be-
fore 100 o'clock. 1t is believed he went
His mother became alarmed when he did
not return home, and about II o'clock in
quiries were made for him, but nobody had
seen him since he parted from his broth
erS.
A brother of the deceased, Walter Acton
was killed by the falling of a scaffold at
the Congressional Library the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1895. The death of Arthur was re-
ported to the coroner who viewed the
body and decided to hold the inquest at
the hour stated. Arrangements for the flu
neral have not yet been made.