Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-21
BLAMES THE COMPANY
C0RONER'S VERDICT REGARDING
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
Investigation Of Circumstances At
tending the Death of Mrs. Gar
rison on Electric Road.

The jury of inquest, with Justice AleXan-
der Sakers as coroner, examined witnesses
yesterday evening at 6 o'clock at Rogers
building. In Hyattsville. in the case Of Mrs.
Sarah e. Garrison, who was killed at
Brentwood by car No. 4OS of the City and
Suburban railroad Sunday morning. A
large number of people were present at the
inquest.
The railroad company was represented by
Maurice Talbot of Montgomery county, Da-
vfd B. Lackey of Washington and James c.
Rogers of Hyattsville Mr.. Robert w. Wells
of Hyattsville was counsel for the family
of the deceased. Mr.. Thomas H. Garrison,
son of the deceased. was also present.
After an hour and quarter of delibera-
ton the jury rendered the following YER
dict: I'VE the jury find that deceased, Mrs.
Sarah =. Garrison. came to her death by
being struck by a nOrth-bound car Of the
City and Suburban Railroad Company at
Henry street railroad crossing, Brentwood,
IN the state of MARYLAND and county Of
Prince Georges. due to the neglect of said
company permitting their cars to be run
at such rate Of speed as to endanger the
lives Of the pedestrians"
This verdict was signed by J. S. Farden.
foreman. and the balance of the jury, con-
sisting of William Crafty, John Shreeves,
Wallace c. Raybold. JOS e. Gray, r. L.
Payne. G. A. Rowe. B. Y. Harvey, Oliver
G. Dom, Charles j. Wagner. Herbert ].
MOHatt and John G. Garner.
The First Witness.
The witness first examined was Mrs.
Charles Helm of 2S04 street, West Wash
ington. She stated that she was on the
car at the time of the accident and heard
a jar but saw nothing. She said she
thought the car was going slowly and she
did not know if the bell was ringing.
The next witness was Mrs. Mary E.
Burchard Of Riverdale, who was also
aboard the car, but did not see the acct
dent. She was looking out of a window,
she said. She afterward saw a woman ly-
at what the witness regarded as a moder-
ate rate of speed. She did not know
whether the bell was ringing or not. She
supposed 1t was a stopping place where
the accident occurred.
Mr.. E. M. Chase Of Washington stated
that he got on the car, with his wife and
baby, at 9Th and E streets. He knew moth
ing Of the accident till the unfortunate
woman was struck. The car, he thought,
was going at speed of twelve or fifteen
miles an hour. He did not know whether
or not the motorman rang the bell. The
went twenty-five or fifty yards before
stopping after the accident. He did not
see the lady till after she was picked up.
Mr.. T. c. Browning, iii 9th street north
west, Washington, stated that he was on
the car at the time Of the accident and
the east side of the car. He could not tell
at what rate Of speed the car was going
and could not tell whether or not the bell
was ringing. He happened to look out of
the window and saw a woman on the track
with her umbrella lifted. The car was al
most on her at the time. The motorman
was making an effort to stop the car. He
thought the was going slowly. The car
ran about a hundred feet before stopping
after the accident.
RI 10 pauyi1dorod
Lewis l.. Gladdings stated that shortly
after 10 o'clock he was at a small house to
the left of Capt. Bartletts barn. He heard
the car approaching and saw Mrs. Garrison
coming up When she got on the inbound
track she stopped and hesitated. She was
apparently bewildered and tried to cross
the other track He saw her when she shot
from the car and struck the fence, where
she fell. He assisted in taking her to the
porch Of Mr.. Huffs residence. She lived
about ten minutes after the passengers
reached her. When questioned by the jury
the witness stated that Mrs. Garrison stop
ped on the track about two or three Sec
onds, and had nearly succeeded in crossing
the east tracks when the car struck her. She
was on the out track and had nearly clear
ed 1t. He was not certain whether or not
the motorman rang the bell. When Mrs.
Garrison reached the inbound track she
made signal for the car to stop, but 1t
check its progress. Mrs. Garrison was
about a car length away at the time. The
car ran the distance of lone or two posts
after hitting the lady. Her umbrella was
closed when she sIgnaled to the car.
Victor e. Violland testified that he was
about 200 yards from the scene of the acct
dent. He was at the corner of Holiday and
Henry streets. He heard the bell ring at
Bartlett's crossing. He saw a woman be-
tween the two tracks. She hesitated and
waved her umbrella. She started to cross
the track the car was on. The fender Of the
car struck her, and she fell back on the car,
and it threw her against the fence The
motorman rang the bell before he saw her.
The witness was looking at the woman and
not at the car, but did not know whether or
not her umbrella was raised When the
umbrella was found the top was bent. Mrs.
Garrison was so close to the car, the wit
ness said, that the motorman could not
have stopped 1t IF seat in heaven had
been offered him." The car was running at
speed of thirty miles an hour when the
accident occurred. 1t ran about $50 feet
before 1t stopped.
o L. Gorbin Of Brentwood stated that he
was about 200 feet east of the place where
Mrs Garrison was killed, but did not see
the car when 1t struck her, nor did he hear
the bell ring.
w. E. Watson said he saw the car before
1t struck Mrs. Garrison but did not see 1t at
the minute the accident occurred, as q
house obscufed his view. The car was rum
ming at the rate Of between thirty and thir-
ty-five miles an hour. the witness believed.
It went about $50 feet before it stopped
after the accident.
Clarence Sharp. colored, said he was on
the rear platform of the car when 1t hit
the lady. He saw her when she was way-
ing her umbrella, but did not see her when
she was hit by the car. He saw her when
she was lying against the fence. She was
about half the distance of post when
she waved for the car to stop. The car was
going pretty fast and 1t ran some distance
before it stopped. He heard no bell ring
ing. He thought the motorman could see
her coming up the road as well as he did
The Motorman's Story.
Motorman William c. Moore then testified
that his car was due at Brentwood at 1915
in the morning, but it did not reach there
until between sixteen and seventeen min
utes past 10. Just before the car reached
Henry street he rang the bell as warning
to Mr.. GladdinEs, who was crossing the
tracks When Mr.. Gladdings got off the
track Mrs. Garrison was on the track. |
He saw her before she got on the east
track She threw I'D her hand. He rang
the bell and did all he could to stop. The
current was of when the car was coming
down the grade, and when he first saw her
it was about 125 feet from her and she
coming down the road He coid I,o