Evening star., 1902-04-25

| coroner inquiries Into the Clrcum-
stances Attending the Drowning
of Joseph McKenny.
The Southwest Citizens Association was
| largely represented today at the inquest
held at the sixth precinct station over the
body Of Joseph McKenny, the Baltimore
shoemaker who was drowned in the James
Creek canal several days ago, and whose
| body was found near the NJ street bridge
| early Wednesday morning. After hearing
| the testimony of several witnesses. the
jurors and Acting Coroner Glazebrook
visited the canal, and the many dangerous
places were pointed out by those who were
well acquainted with the section of the city
about the canal property.
The three bridges across the canal were
viewed and the character of the approaches
was noted. After walking from the mouth
of the sewer to the NJ street bridge the
| jurors assembled at the home of Mr.. Chas
F. Weller. one OF their number. and agreed
upon verdict, as follows:
Whereas. it has developed In taking
testimony in the case, that not less than ten
| deaths have occurred from drowning In the
among these being that of a man driving
his horse into the canal. as the street he
was supposedly following led directly into
| the canal, with no guard protection; it
| further developed that prior to July l. 1901,
| a blind clergyman living near the canal
! walked overheard and was drowned, which
could not have happened had there been a
| protection of some kind.
! I'm view of the number of fatalities test-
fed to, all being due to accidental causes.
| which could have been prevented had the
canal been properly fenced and lighted, We
! recommend:
.First-The immediate display of proper
lights such as are used in cases of unpro-
| tected excavations along both sides of said
| canal.
| 'Second-That at the earliest possible mo-
ment a substantial board fence Of not less
than five feet high be erected on both sides
| of the canal.
''Third-As a permanent relief we recon-
mend either the abandonment and filling of
said canal converting same into a
cred sewer
For Consideration of Congress.
The verdict also recited the finding of the
body of Joseph McKenny. who had lost his
life In the canal, and recommended that
copy of the verdict be sent to the District
Commissioners with a request that copies
of it be transmitted to the proper commit
tees Of Congress.
Those who composed the jury were Mr.
Cuno H. Rudolph. DR.. George NJ. Kober,
Mr. w. Riley Decide. Mr.. Charles Schafer
Mr.. Charles F. Weller and Mr.. Bernard
the Southwest Citizens Association was
present at the hearing. as was Dr. Millard
Thompson and others. The law firm of
| Kimball, Potbury & White represented the
relatives of the deceased The jury, which
was composed of representative business
men who interested in the improve
ment, was selected by DR.. Glazebrook the
acting coroner.
The Evidence Submitted.
Policeman William H. Lester of the
fourth precinct was the first witness ex-
amined. He explained to the jury that
he was walking along the canal wall about
$50 o'clock Wednesday morning with his
partner when he discovered the body of
McKenny. Witness said the tide was
| high and his attention attracted to
what had the appearance Of being hair
just about the surface of the water. Be
| lieVing it was the hair of a dog, witness
threw a stone at the object, and when he
found there a mans body in the mud
and water he got rope, tied it about the
neck and made 1t fast to a stake. The
dead wagon was then sent for and the
body was removed to the morgue. Wit
ness said the body was in an erect posi-
| tion.
How long have you been on duty In
the vicinity of the canal?" the witness was
| asked by Acting Coroner Gazebrook.
Eight months" the witness answered.
During that time Row many cases have
you known in which life was sacrificed by
persons getting into the canal?"
! six cases." answered witness.
He said he also knew Of number of
rescues.
| The witness identified photographs of the
canal taken yesterday by the police pho
tographer. and pointed out just where he
found the body. Witness was questioned at
| counsel concerning the. bridges and condi-
tion of the canal from the mouth of the
sewer to the arsenal He gave it as his
! opinion that the few bridges over the canal
| cd f0f
trians. but the approaches to some of them
are practically unprotected. Very little OF
the walls of the canal, he said, is protected.
There are no lights along the wall, and in
most places the wall Is flush with the dirt.
At one place on the edge of the canal the
District has property yard, and at this
point the wall Is protected
Lieut.. HollinbeSger a Witness
Lieut. Hollinberger Of the fourth precinct
testified that the canal Is in his precinct.
He has had charge Of the precinct about
four years, but gould not tell how many
bodies were taken from the canal during
that time OF
been taken from the canal this year?" the
lieutenant was asked.
-Four or five," he answered.
Witness told Of the drowning of Mr. Gar
rison and his horse Garrison had driven
from South Capitol street. The horse was
blind. and witness was informed that the
| man nao Deen orinhihg Inc wall OF the
canal at the point where the horse and
wagon went over the wall, the witness
said, Is ninety feet from South Capitol
street and about ten squares from the Cap
itol. Witness said 1t Is possible for man
absorbed in thought, or who is under the
influence Of liquor. to drive into the canal.
He said he had no proof that Garrison was
Intoxicated.
Blue Print introduced.
/ A. L. Thomas. inspector. employed in the
surface department OF the District, exhibits
ed blue print Of the canal. He sasa The