Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-21
VERDICT OF THE JURY
LEES DEATH AN UNAVOIDABLE
ACCIDENT.
Witnesses Examined at Coroner's In
quest After The Stars Report
Closed Yesterday.

last Sunday night in which Edward u. Lee
lost his life.
After The stars report closed yesterday
afternoon additional witnesses were ex-
amined and Coroner hewitt said he thought
II was useless to have other witnesses call
ed to repeat what had already been said.
He asked counsel representing the widow
and owner Of the boat II they had addition
al witnesses they desired to call. He ex-
plained that he had no desire to cut the
proceedings short or to deprive the diner
ent interests OF the benefit of the testimony
of any witness they might desire the jury
to hear Counsel suggested several names
and the witnesses were called and sworn
Members of the jury expressed themselves
as being satisfied that there had been tes-
timony enough heard to enable them to
reach a just conclusion after these witness
es were examined and the case was sub
mitted without the hearing of the testimony
OF the twenty or more additional witnesses.
1t required less than two minutes time for
the jurors to reach the conclusion stated,
and the case was finished far as the
COrorer was concerned. The verdict met
with the general approval of the men who
are interested in the steamboat business,
and who realize the difficulties that are en-
countered by pilots in dealing with small
craft the river after shutdown upon
which the proper lights are not displayed.
Capt. Bankers Testimony.
After The Stars report closed yesterday
Capt. James T. Barker. who was master Of
the steamer Harry Randall last Sunday,
testified that he knew nothing of the acct
dent until after the boat reached the wharf.
He did hear the crash of the wheel strik-
ing the boat and asked the quartermaster
what he thought of 1t. The latter replied
that he thought the wheel had struck a log
plank. Witness said he saw nothing of
the dinkey or tender, but did see the
schooner-rigged yacht. 1t was not until
after he passed the latter craft that he
noticed she had her signal lights, green
and red. out. He saw no stern light. Wit
ness said he saw the main san of the yacht
up. At the time he passed the yacht his
boat was running under one bell
Were there any other boats about the
rlver?" the coroner asked.
The Samuel ]. Pentz was ahead of me-"
was Capt. Bankers response.
How far was the Pentz ahead of your"
Il should judge about 800 yards" the wit
ness responded. She passed us below
Buena VISTA
Witness said he saw the sails because of
the reflection Of the lights from the city.
Al the time he heard the crash passengers
on the boat were singing and talking. and
he heard no cutlery uttered by anybody on
the boat. The engine he stated. was stop
ped at least loo yards below the sailing
yacht. Witness said he was not requested
to throw the searchlight along the river
until after he had landed his $40 passen-
gers and taken his boat out to make room
for the landing of the Arrowsmth. Capt.
Barker said he had man on the lookout"
on the Sunday night trip. He said he had
been in the steamboat business since 1862.
Engineer Kersey's Statement.
Charles p. Kersey, engineer on the steam
er Randall testified that he was in the en-
CINE room at the time the accident occur
red. and was not in position from where
he could see out on the river. The first he
knew of the accident was after the boat
reached the dock Then somebody came to
bod
small craft the river. Witness said he
came to a full stop about three minutes
before the landing was made. This was an
unusual thing TO happen. but witness could
not tell why it was done. Afterward he got
an order to proceed under one bell.
Philander George. deck mate on the
what he knew of the accident.
"All l know" he said, lis that a boat ran
into us"
Gould you see from where the small boat
came?' he asked.
She looked as If she came from about |
the bow of the yacht"
Witness said there were two men in the
boat at the time. One OF them looked as If
he wanted to get out of the bow and the
other jumped overheard He said he was
unable to get through the crowd on the
boat to notify any of the officers of what
had occurred until after the boat was
locked. The steamer. he stated. was run
ming under bell al the time the acct
dent happened.
QuartermaSter WiSe'S Evidence.
Charles p. Wise. quartermaster on the
steamer Randall. testified that he was
steering the Randall Sunday night. He saw
sails on the Mist. but did not see any
lights. Witness said he saw the sails
when he was about 300 yards distant. He
heard a crash when the steamer was
abreast of the yacht Witness said that
the Pentz was quite distance ahead of
the Randall at the time the accident oc-
Cured.
Chapman Slye who was lookout on the
steamer Randall Sunday night, testified
that he was the hurricane deck in front
of the pilot house upon the trip up the
river. The witness said he saw the yacht
and thought the steamer thirty or
forty yards from her. He saw the signal
lights ON the yacht. 1t was the opinion of
witness that the boats were a safe distance
apart
Randolph j. Ecklofr COS A street north
east. testified that he was passenger on
the steamer Harry Randall Sunday night
when he noticed the small launch, which
seemed to have been driven from the swells
OF the steamer Pentz Witness heard an
appeal come from the small launch AS
well rs he could hear the man in the small
boat he thought he said: Look out there
Then he heard somebody on the boat: You
look out there. or you'll get into the wheel
OF the boat Witness heard the crash.
but could not what happened because
the boat was moving. He said he attracted
the attention of a number OF passengers 20
from the small craft He did not call the
attention Of the officers of the boat to the
accident he took II for granted that
they knew of it, Witness said he had a
conversation with Capt. Barker. In whom
Ec has the greatest confidence and the lat
ter assured him that he did not stop be-
cause he knew nothing OF the accident
He declared most emphatically that he did
not believe the steamers had INDUCED in
any racing on their way up the river.
Other Witnesses.
Cha-!cs karr. SO G. street northwest a
passenger ON the hurricane deck of the
Randall Sunday night. testified that he
heard the crash and surmised that yawl
Loaf had been struck. Witness a man
struggling in the water. He could lind
nothing to throw to him. Witness said
there was plenty OF room for the steamer
20 pass the yacht. but not for the small
tender one OF the passengers told him of
the accident but he thought the crew OF
the Randall knew nothing OF the accident.
Witness said he had had considerable eX-
per!ence on the river, and thought there
was an unfair division of space on the part
of the steamer Sunday night. Mr.. karr
said he saw the necessary lights on the
yach.