Evening star., 1901-05-08
DEATH DUE TO ACCIDENT
VERDICT OF CORONER.S JURY IN
CASE OF MRS. LAINT.
Was knocked Down by "a BicycIe
Yesterday - The Rider Of
Wheel Liberated.

Coroner Nevitt held an inquest at the
first precinct police station today i'm the
case of Mrs Elizabeth Henrietta Launt
who was knocked down and fatally injured
by bicycle at 1lth and. F streets north
west yesterday. Wilson Barnes colored
who rode the wheel. was present at the
hearing, having been held in custody over
night. Friends Of the young man and Mrs
Launt were also present.
Several witnesses gave testimony. and
the jury returned a verdict. stating that
the affair unavoidable accident
Barnes was thereupon released
Mrs. Launt a former resident of
Cooperstown, n. Y, and arrangements for
her funeral will not he made until her
brother arrives here from the New York
town. He is expected TO reach Washington
tonight.
Physicinm'~ Statement.
DIR. Sperro. resident physician at the
Emergency Hospital, testified that he re-
sponded to call from 1lth and F streets
about II 10 O'Clock yesterday, and found
Mrs. Launt in unconscious condition.
He found lacerated wound of the head,
but no indication of fracture. a daugh-
ter of the deceased called at the hospital
during the day, and said her mother re-
Gently complained of vertigo. Witness
thought death resulted from cerebral hem
orrhage. Mrs Launt did not regain con-
sciousneSS. death resulting "A short time
after she reached the hospital.
John A. Richardson. 1879 Mccullough
street. Baltimore. testified that he was
standing in front of 1910 + street yester-
day when he Mrs. Launt crossing the
street. A car was approaching. and wit
ness supposing the car going to strike
her called. Look out" He did not see
the bcyclist until he was arrested The
street was crowded, and the people We're
very much excited over the accident Wit
ness thought Mrs Launt was going south,
and she seemed to be bewildered- There
We're fully twenty people crossing the
street at the time. and witness called to
warn them all of the approach of the ear.
Miss Katie Dunn, No. 1906 G street south
west. told the. jury she was at the second
story front window of 1910 F street at the
time the fatal accident happened. Mrs.
Launt was on the north side of r street
and the ear track when the wheel
struck her. The bicycle was going west at
the time She thought the wheel not
/ going very fast, for the colored rider dis
mounted almost before the wheel struck
| Mrs. Launt. The accident occurred in front
of Desio's jeweIry store, and not at the
street crossing. The wheelman made no
effort to leave the scene of the accident
Miss Dunn said she could not tell from
what direction Mrs. Launt came.
f. S. WertZ. 1910 + street northwest,
| testified that he saw Mrs. Launt when she
left the south side of F street to go to the
north side. The woman attracted his at
tention as she appeared as if she were go
ing to speak to him. Witness said the ac-
cident did not occur on the crossing. He
did not witness the accident
Heard Bicycle Bell.
D. T. Tiefenthaler, SIG 10th street north
west testified that he was crossing F street
Yesterday morning when he heard bicycle
bell ringing. He judged from the ringing
of the bell that the wheel was moving quite
rapidly. Witness saw the bicycle strike
Mrs Launt and knock her down. She was
rendered unconscious, and witness assisted
in removing her to the sidewalk The wo-
man was facing the wheel when she Was
struck. When the wheel passed witness ii
was not going very fast. Mrs. Launt moved
one way and then another. and seemed
confused by the ringing of the car bells.
Witness thought the bicycle bell was
sounded to warn him of its approach.
Policeman Charles {. Pearce testified tnat
he saw Mrs. Launt lying the street
after the bicycle struck her. She WAS lying
on her back and was unconscious. Witness
was in conversation with Policeman
Browne at the time, and his back was to-
ward the car tracks.
Policeman Philip Browne explained to the
jury what he witnessed of the accident.
He saw Mrs. Launt when she started
across the street toward Woodward Il
Lothrop's store. The bell on an eastbound
car was ringing for the crossing and Mrs.
Launt started to run. W illness SAID Sne
ran against the bicycle and was knocked
down. Her head struck on the north rail
of the westbound track. and she was APP
parently in an insensible condition. When
removed to the sidewalk she opened her
eyes and said: Let me up. She then be-
came unconscious and remained in this
condition until she was taken away in the
ambulance. The wheel was on the right
side of the street and was not going fast
when the accident occurred. Barnes, the
rider of the wheel. did what he could To
prevent the accident
The WhecImaD's story.
Wilson Barnes told the jury he did what
he could to prevent an accident He
sounded his bell several times to warn Mrs.
Launt. The latter stepped first to one side
and then to the other keeping in front of
his wheel Finally the wheel struck her
and knocked her down.
Deputy Coroner GlaZebrook testified that
he examined the body and found the injury
to the head to be stated by DR.. Sperro.
The woman weighed 2lo pounds and the
force of the fall was no doubt followed by
a cerebral hemorrhage which caused death
| Nl,ora fr.,.t a..ff faa Gt tr1l1