Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-26
Jury's Verdict Regarding a
Fatal Electric Shock.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST
FOR BOYS
DEATH UNDETERMINED.
Robert Skidmore Electrocuted While
Standing Near Ferris Wheel
on Show Grounds.

A small boy who attended the ''Mardi
Gras and Fall Festival on the circus
grounds in Northeast Washington last
night received a fatal electric shock. and
| another boy had narrow escape from
| death. The boy who lost his life was Rob-
| ert Skidmore, ten years old, son OF MRS.
Sarah Skidmore of 1922 street southeast.
Edward Ferevici of 1924 F street northeast
is the boy who escaped, although he re-
ceved slight shock.
Skidmore and a companion, Harry Her
bert, left their homes late in the afternoon
and went to the show grounds, where they
formed a part of the crowd outside the
tents. They were attracted to the big Fer
ris wheel, and were standing there when
| the electric lights were turned on. Skid
more received shock, and died on the
way to the Casualty Hospital. but the lit
tie Ferevici boy managed to let go the iron
support of the wheel, and thus saved MS
| life. Isidore Sachs, one of the showmen'
| also received a shock.
| because of the fatal accident, but con.
| tinued the show. Fearing a repetition OF
| the accident the proprietor Of the Ferris
wheel did not use the current TO 1eeo .ne
| wires attached to the colored lights after
the electrocution Of the boy. ,,
The physicians at the Casualty Hospltai
| titicial respiration, to revive the posslDie
| spark of life, but were unsuccessful, ano
| when they finally abandoned their enort
| the body of the boy was removed to the
mOrgue.
Coroner hewitt held an inquest today at
| the morgue, and the mother of the victim
was represented at the hearing by Attorney
| Wilton j. Lambert, while Assistant United
States Attorney Bingham was present In
| the interest of the government. Attorney
| ]. Morrill, Chamberlain represented the
show peoples interests.
| After hearing the testimony of a number
| Of witnesses the jury returned verdict IN
which it stated that the boys death was
| due to an accident the result OF conditions
| unknown to the jury
Statement of Physicians.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook, the first
witness examined, testified that he exam
| ined the boys body at the morgue THIS
| morning Witness found that there was
| burn on the hand between the thumb ana
| index finger. Witness also found wounds
| on the arm and body, which, he SAID, had
evidently been caused by the electricity.
His death, the doctor stated, was eVidehls
| due to an electric shock.
| DIR. p Hamilton Lloyd resident phy-
| stefan at the Casualty Hospital, testlneu
| that the boy was dead when the ponce
| reached the hospital about $40 CLOCK
| The doctor was told of the accident, ana
| said the burns found on the body were
| such as would De Ihaue ny OH -
| shock.
| Walter c. Allen, superintendent OF cleo
| trical construction in the DISTRICT tes'!
| fled that he heard of the fatal accident,
| and this morning he found the general
| conditions of the wiring very poor ana
| very dangerous. He said as the wires ex-
| listed this morning he could find no place
where the shock could have been prouuc 80
| some of the wires used for lighting the
| Ferris wheel, he said, had been removed
last night or this morning. Witness said
| that the wires were strung on pir "a 8,
| property, and there Is no provision OF law
| requiring an expert to perform the WORK.
| The wires of the Potomac Electric POWER
| Company, the witness stated, were IN -rs''
| class condition. -,
| Mr.. Allen said he had been told that the
wiring on the grounds had been done by
| employees of the show. These wires, he de-
| clared were much worn and poor, ana
| were constructed in an unsafe condltlon.
| Witness found many bad places In the
| wires with which people might have come
in contact. 1t would have been Impossible,
| he said, for any person TO nave come III
| contact with the wires of the Potomac
Electric Power Company. Witness said
there may have been a cross caused by the
breaking down Of the wires or by improper
construction. Wires which We're used In
| the axle of the wheel, the witness said
| had been removed since the accident oc-
Cured. He could not say that the boy
| was in a position to come in contact with
| them.
Superintendent Memler Testiies.
w. H. Memler, superintendent of con-
| struction of the Potomac Electric Power
Company, testified that he visited the show
grounds last night after he heard of the
| accident. There was nothing wrong with
| the wires of the local company. They were
| put up after Saturday morning Witness
| said when he went to the grounds last
! night he noticed that the lights the
| Ferris wheel had been turned out.
The work of his company, he stated
| ceased some little distance from the Wheel
and the local company had nothing to do
| with the wires about the grounds. This
| morning, he stated, a test was made on the
| grounds and the wires of the Mardi Gras
| Company showed no leakage.
! when did you reach the scene of the
| accident?" asked Attorney Bingham.
About $50 O'clock" he responded.
| "Were there any wires strung about there
last night that were not there this morn
ing"
| Witness said the wires on the wheel
were charged with 40 volts. He had never
| heard of such voltage killing anybody be-
| fore.
Regarded Wires in Good Condition.
Frederick Thompson. living at 5015 Green
way avenue, Philadelphia. electrician in
| charge of the wires on the show grounds,
testified that he had not graduated from an
electrical school, but had worked at the
business for about seven years He is en-
ployed by Mr.. Adolph Seemans. Witness
! said the show started three years ago and
| he Joined it at Clarksburg, w. Va. Witness
! said he had not made a careful examina-
| ton of the wiring the wheel, but
| thought it was in good condition. The
! Ferris Wheel he said. Joined the show in
| March at Birmingham. Ala, and witness
| has nothing to do with the wiring on the
| wheel He said he showed the employees Of
| the local company where the connection
| was to be made.
| Witness was unable to tell how long the
wires had been in use, nor could he tell
| about the condition of the insulation. He