Evening star., 1901-06-14
COR0NER'S INQUIRY
Testimony Concerning the Death Of
Little Charles Musson,
INVESTIGATION NOT COMPLETED
Testimony That Boy Came in Con-
tact With Electric Wire.
DEAD WHEN TAKEN DOWN

bIAD w 1IL~N AMEN ~ w IN
An inquest was held this morning at the
Georgetown police station to determine the
responsibility for the death of Charles P
Musson. who was killed Wednesday morn
ing while picking muIberries from a tree
on the place of Mace McKenney, on the
line of the Great Falls railroad, a short
distance west of the FoxhaH road. An ac
count of the death was published IN Tht
Star at the time.
The inquest was adjourned today after
several witnesses had been examined, to
meet tomorrow morning at the sixth police
precinct when the examination will be
completed, Coroner hewitt announcing that
several witnesses. important to the case.
We're unable to be present at today's ses-
sion. 1t was also announced that the ques-
tion of whose property the wires crossed
would be definitely determined tomorrow.
The jury consisted of David Ustmar,
James w. Mckee, William Wolf, NJ T.
Lnber, John Holmes and William B. Moore
They were brought from Washington by
Morgue Master Schoenberg upon orders
from the coroner. Another jury had been
summoned from GEORGETOWN to hear the
testimony. but its services We're dispensed
with The Washington jury was brought
over in the morgue wagon and carried back
py the same conveyance.
COrOner's Statement.
At the opening of the inquest Coroner
hewitt stated that Charles P. Musson aged
about eleven years, well developed and
about five feet in height, was killed We'd
nesday morning near Harlem. From an
examination the palm surface of the right
hand was burned considerably in some
places to the bone. and the palm Of the
left hand was also slightly burned. The
injuries were characteristic Of electric
burns. and the general appearance of the
body was that death was caused by an
electric current.
The coroner also stated that there were
marks on the right side of the face, extend
ing from the forehead to the chin These
were scratches and not due to electricity,
and were accounted for by the fact that
there were many limbs In the tree. With
this introduction the testimony was begun.
Mabel Musson, aged eight years. a sister
of the boy, was first called. She stated
that they had been making ice cream, and
after cleaning the paddles they went out.
Her brother called her to the tree, and she
picked up the berries he was throwing
down. The child was excused from testify
ing. it being admitted that the boy had
been Killed from an electric current. and 1t
was believed her evidence would not de-
velop material facts connected Herewith
Statement by MIR. Colvin.
b. F. Coivin, resident of Virginia, stat
ed that he was engaged in painting a roof
when he heard the sounds of distress The
house upon which he was working was
about 100 yards from the railroad tracks.
In company with Mr.. Dyer. he went to
the assistance of Mrs. Douglass. an aunt
of the boy. who was calling for them. Mrs
Douglass was already in the tree. and wit
ness climbed up and helped to bring the
boy down. 1t was thought that he had
tainted. and ice water was at hand The
boys forehead was bathed and an attempt
was made to force something down his
throat The body had fallen into a crotch
of the tree.
On cross examination witness did not
know whether or not the tree was ON prop
erty of the electric railroad. There is a
bank near the railroad, he said, about six
feet in height while the pole bearing the
wires leans toward the fence When he
lifted the body down he heard a gurgling
detected pulsation. but found he was mis-
taken. The witress further stated that
yesterday, of his Nn accord. he visited the
place, but did not climb the tree being
warned that it was dangerous. the wires
passing near the center. and the wet Of
the rain still being on the leaves
The witness further stated that the body
was about twelve feet from the ground.
feet down and head up. when he arrived,
Mrs. Douglass holding the head. From ex-
animation by witness the wire on the pole
was four feet over Mr.. McKenney's prop
erty. When he saw Mrs. Douglass in the
tree her head was about eight inches from
the wire and the body of the boy about
eighteen inches or two feet away.
Mrs. Douglass a Witness.
Mrs. Amanda E. Douglass was next call
ed. she stating that for five and one-half
years she had been residing on the place.
She heard the alarm from the little girl
and saw the body in the tree She ascend
ed and lifted the head up, calling for Mr..
Colvin and another painter. When she
q hn hn hnn nv,I 80 %k,o
body were touching, hanging line over
the fence Two limbs rested on the wires
and she was sure the boy was on these
limbs when the accident occurred. 1t was
her opinion that the wires ran over private
property.
Naked Wires Found.
NJ. c. Dyer who lives on the Hurst place
on the Conduit road, and who was one of
the painters corroborated the testimony
of his fellOw-workmen. He thought the
boy had only tainted until the burns were
found on the hand. He thought the body
was hanging over the track side. He ex-
amned the wires and found two small
wires entirely naked and one large wire
the insulation of which was ragged and
thin.
From what he saw of the position of the
body the boy must have been on a heavy
branch. of sufficient thickness to bear the
weight of witness, and he could easily
have reached any Of the wires. Upon cross
examination witness sure the naked
wires were on unused telephone lines. He
said there were six wires within reach two
of which were quite large.
The Voltage Carried.
o. G. Stearns of 2914 Olive avenue, fore
! man for the Washington Traction and Elec-
trio Light Company. was the next witness
He testified to receiving a telephone mes
sage from Mr.. Lackay. the secretary of the
| company, stating that boy had been
| killed. and directing him to investigate and
report to the office. In company with a
iineman, witness repaired to the spot. and
sent the lineman up, telling him to use his
gloves.
Witness stated that there were nine wires
on the pole, two Of which carried 1000 volts.
two others carried 5000 volts, from I
O'Clock in the evening to in the morning:
| two outside wires, perfectly insulated three
feed wires for the trolley system and some
| old wires used formerly for telephone pur-