Evening star., 1901-02-11
RENDERS VERDICT
Ooroner's Jury Declares Collision Of
ThursdayWas Unavoidable.
SUGGESTS CHANGE IN REGULATIONS
Funeral of Fireman keefe, Who
Died as Result of Accident.
THE FLORAL TRIBU L E s

| The jury of inquest in the case of Fire
man Charles A. Keefe, who lost his life last
week while on his way to a fire, reached
! conclusion Saturday in less than five min
| utes, after sitting lasting nearly five
! hours. 1t was the unanimous opinion OF
| the Jury that the death resulted from an
| accident which was unavoidable The jury
also recommended that the regulation re-
| curing cars to be stopped on the Tar side
Of the crossings be changed, and that they
stop hereafter on the near side. A copy of
the verdict will be furnished the District
Commissioners. John Larman, the motor
man, who had been in custody since the ac-
cident occurred, was released.
Impressive services were held yesterday
| afternoon over the remains of the fireman
at the Wilson Memorial Church, on 11th
| street southeast. Brief services were held
at the house, where the detail of fremen,
| under Assistant Chief Kurtz, participates
in the removal Of the body to the church
| Ihe pallbearers, all members of the fire
department. We're: P. ]. Garner w. 1. Seitz.
| Clarence Thompson, c. c. Warren, j. H.
Ward and William Cation. Among the
| many floral offerings was representation
OF f1realarm box 35, on which were the num-
| Der of the box and the words: His last
alarm. At the church the services were
| conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. Thompson.
During his remarks the minister remind
ed his hearers of the uncertainty of life,
and referring to the accident he said he
| thought the man should be placed before
the dollar, and inquired If it were not
about time to stop sacrificing life for speed.
| The pastor referred to the many good quail
| tiles Of the deceased and told of remark
| recently made by the fireman to his mother
| that he wanted to die at his post.
| AS the procession wendea its way from
| the house to the church several houses of
| the fire department were passed, and at
| each one the men were drawn up in front
of the building to pay last tribute to their
departed brother. The tolling Of the bells
on the fire apparatus added to the soIem-
nifty Of the scene. The body was inferred at
| Congressional cemetery.
Death Due to Hemorrhage.
Saturday afternoon, at the inquest, after
| The Stars report closed, Deputy Coroner
| Glazebrook testified that the death of Fire
man Keefe was due to hemorrhage, fol-
| lowing an injury to the body, showing that
| the victim had been caught between two
objects and crushed. The only external in
| jury was bruise on one knee, such an in
| jury would probably be received by be-
ing dragged The left collar bone was
broken and the right was fractured.
The right shoulder was also broken. Wit
ness said that Keefe about six feet one
inch In height and was a fine specimen of
manhood.
E. F. OBannon, 1852 Connecticut avenue
told the jury that the street car was near
MI hdBTuuer 3 corner Wnen he frSt
1t. He did not observe that the speed of
the car was then being slackened but he
| noticed just afterward that the speed was
less. He heard the ringing of the bell on
the car. Witness could not tell about the
speed of the car the truck horses
E. w. Raub, 1917 NJ street northwest.
testified that his attention was attracted to
the truck by the ringing of the bell Know
ing several of the firemen and realizing
how dangerous the Connecticut avenue
crossing was, he watched to see if the
truck would get over the tracks in safety.
He heard people screaming and then came
the crash which was tremendous one.
He could not tell about the speed of the
car. The horses, he thought were slowed
up before they reached the crossing.
William Young. colored, 1901 10Th street
northwest witnessed the accident, but he
knew nothing Of the speed of the horses or
the car.
w. w. Ford, colored, 1903 21st street,
testified that he was standing near the
cab stand at the time the accident hap
pened. He did not notice the car until the
collision occurred. Witness was watching
the truck. The horses We're slowed up, he
said, about 18th street, and at Connecticut
avenue the animals were turned north to
go around the car.
Car Making Usual Speed.
William w. Walker, colored, 1912 2Oth
street northwest, explained to the jury the
circumstances attending the accident as he
saw them. The car came along Connecti-
cut avenue, he said, at about the usual
speed Witness did not hear the motorman
ring his bell as his car approached M
street. The and truck came together,
he said, with great amount of force.
Frank Carroll, colored, 1908 21st street.
testified that he was standing at 18th and
NJ streets when he saw the truck at 10Th
and M streets moving east. The car was
going at a fair rate Of speed when it ap-
peared at the NJ street crossing
William Buchanan, colored, 2261 18th
street northwest. told the jury of having
witnessed the accident. He heard the ring
ing of the bell on the fire apparatus, but
did not hear the bell on the car.
Statements by Conductor and Motor
man.
ThomassDavis, who was conductor on
the car at the time the fatal accident hap
pened, testified that he and the motorman
went on duty at 5:24 o'clock Thursday
morning. having been off duty since
o'clock pm. Wednesday. In response to
Inquiries, witness said he had heard it
stated that the length of the run is about
six miles, and the time allowed to cover
the distance is forty minutes. The car was
on time when NJ street was reached that
morning There were five passengers in
the car A stop made at De Sales
street and after starting a speed of about
nine miles an hour was made. The motor
man brought the down to about five