Evening star., 1901-07-11
DEATH DUE TO ACCIDENT
JURY RENDERS VERDICT EXONE-
RATING RAILROAD COMPANY.
Young Victor ScObell Killed by b. and
o. Express Train Through His
Own CareIessness.

dered this afternoon by a coroners jury
summoned at the sixth precinct station
house to hold an inquest over the remains
of five-year-old Victor ScObell, son of John
Scobell of Winthrop Heights, who was
killed by a Baltimore and Ohio express
train near Langdon station yesterday
morning. 1t appears that young Scobell
was standing upon the railroad track
watching an eastbound freight train.
While watching this train express No. 161,
coming west, ran him down. the engine
striking him, causing instantaneous death
The jury's verdict, so far as the formal
document was concerned, simply stated
that the death had been accidental, but 1t
was informally stated afterward that it
was plainly the duty of parents of children
of tender ages living in the neighborhood
of the railroad tracks of the city to see to
it that such children were not allowed to
cross the tracks unless accompanied by
grown persons. The jury was only few
minutes in rendering its decision after the
testimony had been submitted
The inquest was conducted by Coroner
hewitt and a number of witnesses who
had been summoned We're examined. MIR.
j. H. Aikens of the claim department of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad represent
ed that corporation at the hearing.
Engineer Michael Kirby, driver of the
engine which killed young Scobell, was
placed upon the stand. He said he had
been a locomotive engineer for twenty
five years. The accident, he stated, mad
occurred at a wagon crossing near Lang
don. He added that there was neither
watchman nor gate at this crossing, but
that an automatic bell had been stationed
there for the purpose of warning pedes-
trians. He said that just before the acci-
dent he was running about thirty-fiVe miles
an hour. He had blown two blasts of the
engine whistle in recognition of railroad
target. and had also blown for the cross
TO- nod t1n
lad stepped upon the track about an
engines length in front of his train. He
said that this crossing had never been con-
sidered an especially dangerous place After
the accident he Immediately stopped the
train and notified the conductor. Under
instructions from the latter he then pro-
ceeded to Washington. In answer to ques-
tion the engineer stated that he was about
$40 yards from the crossing where the boy
was killed when he had blown the whistle
The bells at that point. he said. had begun
ringing long before the whistle was blown
The Warning Unheeded.
Charles S. Davis, agent for the Baltl-
more and Ohio at Langdon, said he was on
duty al the time of the accident. He said
that young Scobell and two other children
had come up to his office shortly before the
accident. At that time there was freight
train going to Baltimore. The lad walked
over to adjoining track to see the
there the WashingtOn-bound passenger
train came up and struck him. The agent
had yelled to the boy to get off the track,
but the rumble of the freight train had
drowned his voice Mr.. Davis stated that
he had frequently warned the children to
keep away from the railroad tracks In the
vicinity, but they had paid no attention to
him. He said he had also advised the par
ents of the children of the locality to for
bid them to get upon the tracks, but his
admonition had been unavailing. He added
that there Were no gates at the LangdOn
crossing. At the time young Scobell was
killed. he said, the youth was in advance
of his companions. After witnessing the
accident, he said. he cOulu not leave the
station: therefore he had not gone out
upon the ground to investigate the occur
renee. He had heard the bells ringing at
the crossing and had heard the engine of
the passenger train whisting for the cross
ing.
Frank Mattingly, a youth who was in
the company of young ScOben just before
the latter was killed. said he had not
the occurrence for the reason that he had
been on the other side of the track. Wit
ness stated that he had crossed the track
While the freight train was approac ching
Langdon, and after reaching the other side
he had sat down to watch the train pass.
He said he could see the passenger train
coming. but that when it reached the cross
ing the freight train had blocked his view
of the scene of the accident. He said he
had not heard the warning bells upon this
occasion, but had frequently heard them at
other times. He testified that a great
many people were obliged to use this cross
ing especially the children of the neighbor-
hood, who crossed 1t daily in season in
order to get to school.
Saw the Body in the Air.
Clara Bates, aged twelve years. who was
near young Scobeii when the accident oc-
Cured said she had met Victor at the
railroad track shortly before the catas-