Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-05-20
Yesterdays ACCIDENT.

II Desses Examined-Nerdict Alleges
Negligence on the Part of Engineer
Crump.
DIR. Purvis, the Coroner, held an in
quest this morning at w. Domaine &
Sons undertaking establishment over
the body of Carroll Hansborough who
was struck and killed yesterday after
noon at the Belle Pre- Bottle Works by
engine No. 943 of the Southern Railway.
The jury was composed Of Messrs. J.
II. Trimyer (foreman), r. E. Knight,
G. J. w. Summers, L. Ruben, W. L.
Taylor and Jos. Lowenbach. A num-
Der of railroad men and others were
present.
After the members of the jury had
examined the remains the witnesses
were sworn and their testimony taken
James johnson, colored, was first put
on the stand. He is an employee of the
Glass Works and was on the wagon
when it was struck by the locomotive.
He testified that Engineer Crump
sounded three short whistles when the
engine was on the vehicle; witness was
in the back part of the wagon and barely
had time to Jump and save his life said
he did not hear any whistle previously
witness said he could have seen the APP
preaching engine a square north OF the
place of the accident; neither the wit
ness nor Marlborough looked before at
tempting to cross the track. Witness
said train had passed north on the
Washington Southern track, west OF the
works as the wagon was emerging from
the gate at the glass works; the whistle
of the engine was sounded and the noise
of the train had ceased to be heard
when the wagon reached the Southern
track. Witness testified that engines of
trains generally blow about halfa square
north when approaching the crossing
there was whistle post about that dis
lance north. 1t appears, however, that
this post is a signal for north bound
trains.
Timothy Milburn was next exam
ined. He saw the engine approaching
the crossing, but heard no whistle or
bell; heard three short blasts when the
engine was on the vehicle. Witness
said engines blew whistles at times when
approaching the locality and sometimes
did not.
Fielding Garrett, colored, an employee
at the glass works, followed. Witness
heard no whistle as the engine APP
preached he was about square away
at the time the engineer sounded three
short blasts almost simultaneously with
striking the wagon the engine was run
ming fast.
Engineer Crump was the next witness.
He said the locomotive was running at
"A speed of ten or fifteen miles an hour,
and he sounded the whistle tor the
crossing above, but not for the street
where the accident occurred. The bell,
he said, rang automatically until the
scene of the accident was reached. The
post a short distance north of the glass
works, witness said, is signal for north
bound trains. Witness said fence and
shed at the glass works extended within
six or eight feet OF the track, and 1t was
impossible to see the approach of a We
hicle until an engine would be too close
upon it to stop. As soon as he saw the
wagon on the track he sounded an alarm
whistle, shut off steam and applied the
emergency brake witness thought the
horse stopped on the track the animal
appeared to be bewildered. Witness, In
answer to question, said trains gener-
ally slackened speed at the wall around
the Colross property. The locomotive,
witness said, ran about 100 feet after 1t
struck the wagon.
George Davis, the fireman of the en-
CINE, took the stand. He saw the horse
and wagon on the track and heard Mr..
Crump sound the whistle; the horse
seemed bewildered; it was either about
to back or turn; the whistle was sounded
for Inc road crossing above and the bell
rang automatically; the engine was max
ing between 10 and Is miles an hour.
Mr.. Crump was recalled He said
the schedule time of some trains between
st. Asaph and the Duke street depot
was three minutes; others five. The
distance between the two points is over
a mile. His attention was called tc
The fact that the city laws provide for
speed of between Jour and six miles an
hour within the city limits.
George Ramey, a conductor on the
Southern Railway. and Arthur Dick, col
ored, porter in the employ of the com
pany, both of whom were on the engine
| followed. They heard the whistle an(
bell ringing aud said the engine wa
running at the rate of 10 or II miles al
hour. Their testimony was substantially
the same as given by the engineer ant
fireman.
The jury subsequently visited tn
scene of the accident, and upon thel
return brought in a verdict to the efeC
that Carroll Hansborough came to hi
death by being struck by engine 94S Q
the Southern Railway, through tn
negligence of Carey r. Crump, enginee
in charge, who was running his engln
at higher rate of speed than is above
by the laws governing the running
steam trains in the city limits.