Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-09
WAS DUE TO ACCIDENT
JURY'S VERDICT REGARDING
DEATH OF MAJ. o'DRIscoLL.
The Railroad Company Exonerated
From Blame-Testimony Of
the Witnesses.

The inquest to inquire into the death Of
Major Daniel ODrlscoll, who was instantly
killed at 1885 yesterday afternoon by being
struck by an incoming train while crossing
the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, at Lamond station, near Takoma
Park. began this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.
The inquiry was conducted by Coroner
hewitt at the morgue.
The body of Major O'Driscoll was brought
to Washington last night. 1t is in a horri-
bly, mangled condition, the head being
crushed to such an extent that it was i'm
possible to recognize the features Of the
dead man.
H. Sleeper. James w. Mckee, B. F. Cray
croft. G. I. Casper. T. s. Donaldson and
Alex Bette.
The first witness called was a colored
man, Moses Day, who stated that he lievs
at Lamond's. Witness told the jury that
he knew Major ODriscoll, and about 1890
o clock yesterday afternoon he saw him
driving along the road in buggy. He said
he was about 200 feet from the scene of
the accident.
Day stated that he heard the whistle of
the oncoming train, and saw Major O'Dris-
coll look out of the buggy at the side. Wit
ness stated that Major O'DriScolps horse
was jogging along at an easy gait at the
time, and that when the major saw the
train approaching he took out his whip
and cut the horse sharply in an effort to
get across the track in front of the train.
Day also said the electric crossing bells
were ringing as the unfortunate man drove
upon the track.
Coroner hewitt asked the witness If Major
ODriscoll had time to stop and prevent
the accident after he heard the whistle and
was answered In the affirmative.
Near the Fatal Spot.
Claude Harris. another colored man, was
the next witness. He stated that he had
been talking with Major O'Driscoll about
three minutes before ne was killed, and at
a short distance from the scene of the &C
cident. Witness said the curtains on the
buggy were half way down. He stated he
did not the accident.
The next witness. Mr.. Clyde c. Lamond,
testified that he did not see the collision,
but he heard the whistle of the locomotive.
Shortly afterward,' said the witness, Il
heard noise similar to an explosion, and
the cclored man, Day, shouted:
There's a man killed"
Il went to the scene and found the body
lying upon the tracks. / pulled the coat
from over the man't head and discovered
that it was Major O'Driscoll
Officer Charles Speer said he was at Ia
koma Park a the time of the accident, and
that he was Informed that Mr.. Lamond, the
preceding witness. had been killed at La
mond station. The officer said when he ar
ilFeu upon the scene OF the ACCIDENT Major
O'Driscolls body had been removed from
the tracks and was lying alongside the rail-
road.
The witness said he Informed police head
quarters of the accident before he left Ia
koma Park.
The Trainmen Testify.
John Norris of Baltimore, Nd, the engi-
neer of the locomotive No 1313 which
caused the death, stated that he blew his
whistle at point where the street car line
goes under the railroad
He said he did not see the buggy nor the
horse until it was too late to stop his train.
He said the train was late, probably be-
tween thirty and thirty-fve minutes.
He was asked whether he was trying to
make up time, to which he answered that
he wasn't running any faster there than
at any other place.
The fireman of the engine. ]. R.. Sutch,
who also lives al Baltimore, testified that
he did not see the horse and buggy until
after the crash.
whistle at the signal post. which is located
at the point where the street railway goes
under the railroad
The witness corroborated the statement
OF the engineer in regard to the train being
about thirty minutes late. and said that
they We're not making up time.
The last witness called was Deputy Coro-.
ner Glazebrook, who stated that he per-
found the skull split open and other inju-
ries about the body
Death was caused by the crushing Of the
skull and brain
The case was at this point submitted tn
the jury.
The Verdict.
At 800 o'clock the jury returned verdict
to the effect that Major O'Driscolrs death
was due to accident and generating the
railroad company.
A Horrible Scene.
The scene Of the killing of Maj. Daniel
ODrlscoll at Lamond's station yesterday
was horrible one. The buggy in which
the unfortunate man had been riding was
almost completely demolished, and parts of
it had been carried by the fast flying ex-
press to point 100 feet south of the cross
ing where the accident had occurred. Two
OF the wheels OF the vehicle were all Of it
that remained intact. The buggy was ~.
ing upon slight embankment a few feet
from the northbound track. The curtains
and leather portion of the vehicle were torn
into shreds.
Lying on the opposite side of the railway
track bed was the dead body of the horse
winch a second before was attached to the
buggy. Its body was almost severed in
twain, and was lying about fifty feet from
the crossing. The tracks, roadbed and the
ground on each side for considerable dis
post of the railroad crossing danger sig
nal, which stands in prominent position
where the road crosses the tracks of the
Baltimore and Ohio, was covered With the
blood of the horse. Pieces of the wrecked
vehicle were visible for hundreds of feet
in every direction A lamp post which is
used for lighting this crossing during the
dark hours was snapped off when the ami
NAL came in contact with it and was drag
ged from its resting place several feet and
tmbedded in the embankment. The glass
and other portions of the lamp were strewn
over the tracks and along the roadside.
Like the danger post it was covered with
a coating of blood.
The crossing where the accident took
place Is comparatively open, not being OBJ
structed to any great extent by trees or
shrubbery. On the right side Of the tracks
a short distance beyond the crossing IS a
large clump Of trees On the opposite side
Is small station for the convenience of
passengers. but this it Is claimed, does not
obstruct the view from the road This
road at this point winds it's way up a steep
slope after leaving the tracks to a point
high above the waiting station. The en-
bankments on the opposite side of the two
points mentioned but a few feet in
height, and an approaching train, it is
demonstrated. could easily be SEEM
Killed at Curve Crossing.