Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-23
Coroner's Verdict in Case Of
Silas Woliver.
THE BLAME PLACED
RAILWAY CHARGED WITH FAIL.
ING TO KEEP GATE FASTENED.
Funeral Services at Pohick Church
Over Remains Of Miss Lambert
General News.
Evening Star Bureau,
701 King street,
Bell Telephone. 100,

Evening Star Bureau,
70 King street,
Bell Telephone. 1O6,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, December %. 1902.
The circumstances attending the death Of
Private Silas Woliver of the 47th Company,
Coast Artillery, United States army. sta
toned at Fort Hunt, Va, which occurred
Sunday afternoon consequent upon an ac-
cident on the Washington, Alexandria and
Mount Vernon railroad just below this city.
were Investigated this morning at 1890
o'clock by a coroner's jury, which met at
Demaine's undertaking rooms on King
street. Coroner William r. Purvls presided
at the inquest. The jury was composed as
follows: George Bryan. foreman: Richard
Gibson, E. Warield. IT.; Frank Warfeld,
]. Fred Birrell and Frank Martin. Several
witnesses were examined and after a
lengthy elaboration the jury rendered
verdict, finding that the deceased came to
his death at the time and place indicated
by fracture of the skull, produced by being
struck on the head by the beam used as a
signal gate at the crossing Of the Southern
and the electric railroads. and that his
death was due to the carelessness and
negligence Of the Southern railroad officials
In not keeping the gate securely fastened
and locked
Lie llISl WllucSS 6AdullHcO was VuOlOL Ludfl
Henry F. Burke. who was in the cab of the
car which left the Royal street station for
the Mount Vernon run at 1926 Sunday
afternoon. He stated positively that the
signal beam, which was adjusted from a
pole in the southwestern angle between the
tracks for service over either road, was in
its usual position across the Southern
branch track when the motor car ap-
at a slow rate Of speed. having slowed up
few seconds before to avoid striking a
COW which was seen on the track some dis
lance ahead. Burke did not know what
had happened when he heard the crash
caused by the sudden impact Of the beam
against the car windows. He brought the
train to stop within a few yards. When
he went back into the coach he saw Wolf
down in the aisle near the front seat, terri
bly, injured.
Testimony Of Other Witnesses.
William Vernon. the conductor who was
In charge Of the train. told Of the removal
of the injured to the Alexandria Hospital
Immediately after the run back to Alexan-
dria. He did not see the accident. as he
was In the rear Of the car at the time. DR..
William M. Smith, who examined Woliver,
stated that his head was crushed like an
egg shell. There was fracture extending
all around the top and the base had also
been fractured. Large blood vessels at the
base Of the brain had been ruptured. The
case was entirely hopeless, the doctor said,
and the patient never regained conscious
ness. w. H. F. Finke, an engineer of the
Southern road. explained the arrangement
Of the signal gate. He said 1t was fastened
to either track by bolt in movable sta
pie. Formerly. he said. 1t had been Sc
passing electric car. even after the bolt had
been taken out and the staple dislocated.
not have been moved by the Earring of
passing electric car. even afr the bolt had
ben taken out and the staple disIocated.
Oliver Simpson. a Southern railroad en-
ploye, told of passing the crossing in ques-
ton last Friday afternoon on train of
freight cars for the brick yard nearby. He
saw the bolt removed for the passage Of
the train and replaced after 1t had gone by.
The opinion Of Engineer Finke with regard
to the stability of the arrangement was
shared by this witness. Substantially the
same story was told by w. J. Whalen, a
switchman on the Southern train which
passed over the branch track Friday. 1t
was stated that the track had not been
used since. After the examination Of this
witness the jury rendered the verdict as
above stated.
Corporal Appleby's Condition.
Corporal Appleby. who received a severe
fracture of the skull in the accident in
which his companion lost his life, was re-
ported to be doing very well at the Alexan-
dria Hospital this morning.
Arrangements for the funeral Of Private
Woliver had not been completed this morn
ing. 1t was stated yesterday by officers at
Fort Hunt that the body would be inferred
In Arlington cemetery II 1t were not claim
ed by relatives in the meantime.
National Union Officers.
The annual meeting Of Alexandra Coun-
ell. No. 665, National Union, was held last
night in the knights of Pythias' hall, when
officers were elected for the ensuing year.
Mo fnlI ryiYo obi L r
Bayne. president; E. F. Thompson, vice
president; T. F. Scrivener recording secre-
tary; c. H. Davis, financial secretary; Jas.
McCuen. treasurer; j.. e. Sampson. chap
lain; Thomas U. Fairfax, usher; J. H.
Byrnes, sergeant-at-arms; NJ R. Norris,
doorkeeper; Messrs. w. P. Hehshaw, E. F.
Thompson and T. H. Bayne, trustees. The
public installation Of the newly elected off,
January II. banquet will be served on
this occasion, and 1t Is expected that sew
eral members of the order from Washing
ton will be present.
Funeral Of Miss Lambert.
Funeral services over the remains of Miss
Alice Lambert, whose death occurred Sum-
day in Washington. took place today at
Pohick Episcopal Church in Fairfax. The
remains were carried to the home Of DR..
H. c. Lambert, the father Of the deceased.
near Occoquan. Prince William county.
Monday. MISS Lambert was nineteen years
Of age. Her early death is sincerely
GREETED among a large circle of friends.
Recently she had been staying with reia-
tives in Washington. Death followed a
short illness from pneumonia.
General Matters.
A pound party was held last evening In
the lecture room Of the M. e. Church
South by the Dorcas Society OF that church.
Many useful donations, such as groceries
and articles of clothing, were received and
the members Of the society will distribute
these among the needy poor of the city
to brighten their homes for the Christmas
season.
The marriage Of Miss Annie Elizabeth
Curtin, daughter OF Alderman J. r. N.
Curtin, and Mr.. A. Sidney Mankin took
place last evening at the home Of the
bride on North Columbus street, Rev. DR..
George L. Hunt of the First Baptist
Church officiating. After the ceremony the
bride and groom left for q northern tour.
A decree was entered today by order OF
Judge Charles e. Nicol in the circuit court
for Alexandria city, in vacation. appoint
ing Messrs. John NJ. johnson and ]. X. n.
al mic 49, IL,