Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-22
C0R0N ER'S INQUIRY
INVESTIGATING DEATH OF OTIS
JOHNSON.
Justice of the Peace and a Jury Hear
Testimony at Hyatts-
vile.

ArthuS Carr, justice of the peace Of Hy-
attsvtle, Md, summoned the following cor
oner's jury today to investigate the circum-
stances connected with the death CT Otis
johnson, colored, of Washington, who was
Killed by falling from q Baltimore and Ohio
railroad train while running through Hy-
attsville Sunday morning shortly after 9
o'clock: John F. Hickey, p. NJ. Leakin,
Fred A. Soules, DR.. L. J. Sutton. Walter S.
button, Frank Rush, William Waller
George c. Walker, jr., George NJ. McFar-
land Ernest Gasch, c. c. Hill and l. Q.
Shipley. The proceedings were not con-
cluded today and will be resumed tomor-
row afternoon at o'clock, when other
witnesses will be heard
The taking of testimony began TODAY
shortiy after 10 clock, after the return of
the jury from viewing the remains of john
son at the morgue in Washington.
Dr. Z. A. Wells of this place was the
Ifst witness to take the stand. DR.. Wells
recifed that he had been summoned short
~ after o'clock Sunday morning by Rich
ara Matthews. also Of Hyattsville. who
told him that there was a man lying at the
station who had fallen from the Bay Ridge
train. which had just passed through the
town DR.. Wells found the man. apparent
ly conscious. but suffering considerable
pain. with his left leg broken and numer-
Gus Commissions about the body, and in an
apparently dying condition. Stimulants
were administered to johnson and a south
bound train stopped to take the injured
man to Washington. The injured man did
not tell DR.. Wells anything about the acct
dent.
Conductor ]. E. Roberts was the next to
take the stand. Mr.. Roberts stated that he
had charge Of the second section of the Bay
Ridge train, No 14S, leaving Washington
about 910 o'clock Sunday morning. This
section Of the train was said to have con-
sisted of nine coaches, seven regular and
CT cd
that while passing through the first COM
bination car, which was next to the en-
CINE, he had not paid any particular atteu-
ton to any one OF the passengers as the
train was so loaded he had all he could do
to attend to the proper collection Of the
fares. While the train was passing through
Hyattsvile, Mr.. Roberts stated. he was in
the third coach from the. engine, back of
the one from which Johnson fell.
He stated, however, that the baggage
compartments Of the first combination car
had about nine or ten people in it, but he
passed through it so quickly he could not
say in what positions they were grouped.
Mr.. Roberts stated that he did not see any
one standing on the platforms. and had told
many, at the station in Washington, not to
take his train, but to wait for a later one,
which, he said, would leave in about fifteen
minutes after his section started. He
stated that he did not give any one permits
sion to go into the baggage car. In answer
to questions. Mr.. Roberts stated that the
capacity Of the regular coaches was about
sixty passengers. and that Of the combina
ton about thirty each, thus leaving some
thing like forty persons to shift for them
selves in the matter of obtaining seats.
Baggage Masters Statement
B. H. Bourke, the baggage master in the
compartment from which Johnson fell was
the next witness. He stated that number
of persons, among whom We're about six
white ladies and several white men, with
Johnson. came into the baggage compart-
| ment and asked permission to sit upon the
| trunks and other pieces of baggage. Mr..
Bourke stated that he was busily engaged
in the making out his reports. and had his
back to those liz the compartment. At
Hayattsville his attention was attraced by
the colored woman crying out It's my hus-
band! It's my husband!' Learning that
he had fallen from the car. Bourke pulled
the emergency cord and brought the train
to a standstill. He passed quickly back
through the cars to the rear of the train,
while the brakeman took a flag and ran to
the station, where group of persons were
standing. Upon returning to his place on
the train he was told by some of those in
the baggage compartment that Johnson had
been sitting at the door with his feet hang
ing out. Bourke stated that some of the
passengers had spoken to Johnson about the
danger and suggested that he move to a
place Of greater afety. Bourke stated that
there was disturbance at any time prior
to the accident. From his position the bag
gageman stated that he could not see john
son.
j. E. Muse, the brakeman could add moth
ing to what had already been told.
An Eyewitness.
Archie Mcfarland of Hyattsville stated
that about the time the train was approa CHI
ing the station on the morning me ntioned ne
was on the west side of the tracks and
going north, or In the direction the train
was moving When the train had reached
a fence between the two tracks at the sta
ton he noticed man fall from the train,
feet first, the body later assuming erect
position, and after bouncing along the top
of the fence several times. fell on his side
of the fence Calling to several persons in
the vicinity, Mcfarland. with their assist
ance, picked up Johnson and carried him to
the platform near by. Witness heard the
| man give his name and address, and also
heard him say that he had been thrown
from the train by the conductor. He did
not hear Johnson say anything else.
Joseph Gray and Constable Vincent We're
the parties called by Mcfarland. who as
sisted the latter in carrying the injured
man to the platform. Mr. Vincent re-
marked at the time the train was passing
through Hyattsville that there We're many
people going to Bay Ridge. and stated at
the inquest that all the platforms and bag
| gage cars appeared to be crowded with pas
sengers. Mr.. Vincent asked Johnson his
name and address, and received answers
that seemed to come from a conscious man.
In answer to how he was hurt Johnson
stated to witness that he had been thrown
| from the car by the conductor. Witness
stated that the wife of the dead man had
said that she had asked her husband to
postpone the trip, as she did not wish him
to go to Bay Ridge that day.
Richard Matthews, the man who had
summoned DR.. Wells was heard, but could
add nothing to the testimony already
given.
Tho home af the dead man was ar 11Oo
New York avenue. He was employed there
as janitor.
APPEALS TO GOVERNOR.