Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-23
George Lemp Almost Decapi-
tated on Fifth Street.
VERDICT OF ACCIDENT
THE LAD RAN IN FRONT OF CAR
WHILE PLAYING.
The Evidence Shows That the Legal
Rate of Speed Was Not
Exceeded.

A
about O'Clock yesterday afternoon on 9th
street northwest near the corner OF
street. George L. I.emp. six years old.
whose parents reside at 902 9th street, was
run over by a north bound City and Subur-
han car and instantly killed. The little
bov with long, flowing yellow curls, was
almost decapitated. He was playing VIII
other BOYS. and after pulling away from
COMPANION he started to run across thA
street without looking where he was gong
William r. King the motorman, saw liie
boy when 1t was too late to prevent the
accident. He stopped the car as soon US
he could and assisted in removing the pouJ
from under the car. The fast orlVe VI 'iie
horses attached to the patrol anu uea'
wagon attracted several hundred persoiis
to the scene of the accident. 1t was not
until the body had been removed TO the
morgue that the crowd dispersed.
This morning Coroner hewitt nelo an III
ouest at the sixth precinct station, ana the
Jury returned a verdict of accidental ueati.'
the circums stances of which the jury S'a'oU
rendered 1t unavoidable Inc pouy w1o
moved TO the home of the boys parents.
His funeral will take place from 81 Mary
Church tomorrow morning. Inc lntermeii'
will be at st. Mary's cemetery.
The Inquest.
The first witness examined at the inquest
was Charles Brown of 1886 Sd street north
west. He was walking north on 9th street
shortly before O'Clock when his attention
was attracted to two boys VINO were
wrestling in front of 920 9TH street. Inc
smaller boy broke away and started TO run
across the street While running he was
looking back as If he thought the other boy
would follow him. About the Tune ne got
In the middle of the track somebody in the
car screamed Witness also heard the ring
ing of the bell He said the fender struck
the boy and threw him to the asphalt pave
ment. The boy was tossed along the track,
and Just about the time witness thought he
was going to roll away from the car his
head rolled on the track and the rear truck
passed over him. Mr.. Brown said he was
walking north in the direction the car was
moving. He said that the little boy drop
ped his cap near the curbstone about the
time he started TO run. The larger boy, he
stated, did not move when his companion
started to run.
The car stopped after 1t had gone about
three lengths from where the boy was
knocked down.
Sergeant Goss testified that he examined
the car. No. 1499. at the lexington car
barn this morning. He found a number of
hairs on the release spring in front of the
rear truck. On gear case in rear of the
truck he found blood stains. There were
no blood marks on the fender or wheels
Car Not Going Fast.
Robert c. Byrd colored, driver of a de-
livery wagon for Clarendon Smith, whose
place of business is at 9TH and K streets,
testified that he was on his way from the
store to the wagon when he noticed sew
eral boys playing on the street. He re-
turned to the store and was making sec
ond trip to the wagon when he saw the
car strike the boy.
WAS the car going fast?" asked the
coroner.
No, sir" was his answer. 1T looked as
II It was going to stop at the corner
Witness said he turned his head when the
car struck the boy.
William Sample testified that he was
seated on the front seat of the reading
a paper when he heard an outcry. He
looked and saw the boy as he ran upon
the tracks. Witness got off the car as
soon he could and watched the boy while
he was being dragged. Witness said the
car was going at the usual speed made in
the city, and not fast in the coun-
try His attention was attracted to the
danger by the efforts of the mOtorman to
stop the car and the shouts of the boy.
1t was his opinion that the car was quickly
stopped. He was unable to say that the
motorman called to the boy.
Eight or Nine Miles an Hour.
William Beagle, an electrician living at
1921 Rosedale street northeast, testified
that he was driving north on 9Th street yes
terday and the car was about keeping up
with his team. His explanation Of the ac-
cident was that the front truck went over
the boy and that the rear wheel dragged
him. Witness said he was driving at the
rate of not more than eight or nine miles
an hour. He felt certain that the boy did
not come from the east side of the street.
as he would have had to cross in front
OF witness horse. Witess said that
the motorman did everything in his power
to stop the car after the boy was struck.
There We're people enough in the car to
lift the vehicle off the boy, but they re-
fused to get out and assist the railroad
men.
One Estimate of High Speed.
John E. Petit. another eyewitness. said
he was walking south on the east side of
9Th street near X, when he noticed two
boys playing One of them. who. was wear
ing a small cap. fell on the track and the
car struck him.
1.-THE car was going about eighteen miles
an hour said the witness, If I'm good
judge
He said that the car and Mr.. Beagle's
horse were making about the same speed.
Peter Schneiderwind, an elderly man.
caused some amusement by saying he did
not know how to spell his name after the
police had been troubled about calling 1t.
He said several boys were playing and that
young Lemp ran In front of the car while
trying to get away from a companion. He
heard the car gong sounded before the ac-
cident happened. -
The Motorman's Story.
William f. King, the motorman in charge
OF the car told the jury that his car left
the treasury at 5:45 O'Clock and was on
time when the accident occurred. Witness
saw the boys standind on the curbstone.
and when he saw the little one start across
the street he shut off the current and APP
piled the brakes. The boy was running fast
when he was struck. The fender was in
good working order, but Ii did not get
good enough hold OF the boy to carry him.
1t struck him and knocked him ahead. Wit
ness said his car had about forty passen-
gers upon 1t and making a speed of
about six miles an hour. 1t was running
on five points. but not al full speed for that
number Full speed. he stated. would have
given 1t eight miles an hour. Witness first
noticed the boy when he was about twenty
feet from him.
Rufus Natter conductor. testified that ne
was In the rear part of the car collecting
fares when the came to a sudden stop
He got on and saw the dead boy under the
car.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook described the
injuries to the boy. Death was due to the
severe injuries. The head was not complet-
~ severed from the body. The body and
head were mangled and one arm was
broken.