Evening star., 1902-01-25
DEATH DUE TO ACCIDENT
VERDICT IN THE CASE OF EDWARD
C. KOsACK.
Report of the Testimony Submitted
Today Before the Coroner
and q Jury.

noon today In the case of Edward Charles
Kosack, the railway employe who was
killed yesterday morning in the pit on 11th
street southeast, near the Anacostia bridge.
Former Judge Charles c. Cole appeared
for the railway company, and Attorney F.
L. Siddons was present in the interest OF
the family of the dead man. verdict OF
accidental death was returned by the jury
and the body was given into the charge of
the family for interment
Following is the testimony given before
the jury:
PIT Work Explained.
Conductor John E. Tidings, whose car
killed the pitman, explained to the jury how
the work is done in the pit. The pitman
he explains, usually enters the pit when
he sees car approaching. Yesterday morn
ing a few minutes before o'clock his car
reached the pit. There was south-bound
car there at the time, and the car in charge
of witness stopped just on the edge OF the
pit When the man gave the signal for the
south-bound car to move from the pit wit
ness gave his motorman two bells to go
ahead. Witness pulled down the trolley as
soon as the car stopped.
After waiting some time and getting no
signal from the pitman to go ahead, witness
and the motorman left the car to ascertain
the cause of the trouble. The motorman
remarked: Hes on the bottom OF the pit,
dead" Witness assisted in getting him OUT
of the pit He was certain life was not eX-
tinct at that time. Witness explained that
his car stopped short distance from the
pit as two cars are not permitted over it
at one time.
D. c. Skinner, the motorman who was on
the car yesterday morning, gave similar
testimony. His car left Florida avenue and
18th street on schedule time, and reached
the north end of the Anacostia bridge on
the return trip at 1856 o'clock. He ex-
planned that he heard the pitman's signal
for the south-bound car to move, and then
he was given two bells to move over the
pit. His fender was about six or eight
inches from the pit when he was given the
signal to go ahead The iron doors OF the
pit, the witness stated, were open. They
are usually kept open in the day time, ana
a flag is between the track to give warning
to drivers.
Did Not Ring His Bell.
Witness did not ring his foot bell before
starting. No signal Of any kind was given
to him by the pitman. He said that after
waiting two or three minutes he got off his
car and saw the dying man lying in the
pit His head was in the corner to the
SOUTH and his feet were moving. Kosack,
he said, had been employed in the pit for
long time, and was familiar with the pit
and cars Witness said he thought that
Kosack raised his head too high and was
struck by one of the motors.
After the accident happened witness ana
the conductor arranged the plow and took
the cars to the shed at Florida avenue and
11th street. Witness did not know the
exact depth of the pit, but he said 1t is not
deep enough to allow man to stand erect
without his head coming above the tracks
There is a manhole between the tracks
from which the pitman may look for ap-
preaching cars, but there was an iron
covering to it yesterday.
w. H. Taylor, a motorman on the Ana
costa line, also gave testimony. He
reached a point just north of the pit about
the time the accident was discovered. So
far as the witness knew, the pit Is about
the same as the other pits about the city.
Witness got in the pit and assisted in re-
moving the victim. The later was lying on
the base of the pit with his head In the
southeast corner. He was barely alive at
that time. There were blood stains on the
walls of the pit. Kosack, the witness
stated, was always sober and industrious
man. He was always prompt in making
connections.
Other Witnesses.
John W. Hopkins, colored, bridge keeper
at the north end Of the Anacostia bridge,
testified that he reached the pit few min
utes after the accident occurred. Witness
saw the body after it was taken from the
pit.
]. L. Ashford a conductor, told the jury
what occurred after his car reached the
pit. He did not witness the accident. Wit
ness telephoned for the ambulance.
DR.. r. w. Baker, acting deputy coroner.
testified that he examined the body OF the
victim. His head was badly crushed and
his scalp was cut. The injuries to his head
caused death.