Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-02
ACCIDENTAL DEATH
Verdict of Jury in the Case of
Samuel Maloney.
CORONER'S INQUES T
CoLoRED LABORER WHO WAS
KILLED BY ELECTRIC SHOCK.
Jury Recommends Removal in Future
of Distractions Where Excava-
lions Are Being Made.
CORONER'S INQUEST

Samuel MaloneyS death was investigated
at the mOrgue this morning by Acting Cor
oner Glazebrook and a jury of six men.
Maloney was the colOred man who was
electrocuted yesterday morning while at
work on square 60O where an excavation is
being made for the foundation of the Of
fees for the House Of Representatives, as
stated in yesterdays Star. 1t was shown
that he was following the steam shovel and
was upon the track when he received the
fatal shock. The shoe his left foot was
badly worn and several burns on the sole
of the victims foot made ii appear that he
received the deadly shock from the steel
rail.
Attorney Hamilton was at the inquest as
the representative of the Brennan Con-
struction Company, while Attorney Patter-
son represented relatives of the dead man.
The Jurors examined number of wit
nesses and reached the conclusion that Ma
loney's death was due to an accident The
jury recommended that when such work
was done in the future Instructions such as
were encountered in the excavations where
Maloney was killed should be removed in
advance.
The Opening Testimony.
DR.. Charles James. acting deputy coroner
was the first witness. He testified that he
examined the body and found the only ex-
ternal evidence of violence was about the
sole of the right foot. There were several
burns on the bottom of the foot and the
shoe was badly worn. 1t was the opinion
of the witness that the sole of the victims
foot was bare.
Walter C. Allen. electrical engineer Of
the District, testified that he visited the
scene of the accident yesterday morning
after Maloney was killed. He described
the position of the steam shovel and cOndi-
ton of the wire. Witness explained that
the shovel was some little distance from
hA uyha ha t.iSi Tod thn nj ND
told of how the machine is operated. The
wires. the witness stated. were used to
supply electricity for lighting the new tun-
mel.
for making the connection. but the con-
struction across the square was done I'M
der the supervision of the superintendent
of the public buildings and grounds. He
said the wires were strung at about the
usual height of the wires that are used for
supplying the wires used in the street
lighting system. Witness said the wires
were strung in a perfectly safe and open
condition. The wires were in good condi-
ton. He thought such wire would hardly
have broken without some force had been
used.
Mr. Allen said the wires were earring
voltage of about 1000 and the transformer
below the scene of the accident reduced ii
TO approximately 40 volts. Witness said
he had no knowledge of the condition of
the wires prior to the time the accident
ShoFei was too long to pass beneath the
wires without striking against them.
Engineers Statement.
David F. Williams. the engineer who
was on duty on the steam shovel yester-
day morning when the fatal accident oc-
CURED, testified that he is employed by
Stewart & Wilmoth and the Brennan Con-
struction Company, and holds a license
issued by the District authorities. Yester-
day morning he went to work about Z
O'Clock. Witness described the construc-
tlon of the big machine, crane and shovel
He said the top of the crane is about
twenty-five feet from the ground. The
crane, he stated, is constructed of wood
and iron and must be substantial because
of the heavy nature of the work it has
to perform.
Witness said his machine had passed
beneath the wires several times and had
not experienced any trouble until yester-
day morning. He was moving his machine
from the west to the east of the wires
when the accident happened. and said his
machine had dug beneath the wires prior
to yesterday. At that time he was back
ing his machine and could not see the
wires. Just as the of his machine
came In contact with the wires somebody
called to him to stop. The fireman told
witness that his machine was closing
against the wires and suggested that ne
Che fireman. would push them out of the
way. Witness suggested that the crane
man should attend to the matter of the
wires, and 1t was while he attending
to II that the accident happened. The en-
gineer said he saw the sparks and all was
over in an instant
At the time the wire broke, witness said
the machine was not running. but the wires
were apparently entangled in part of the
machine. Prior to yesterday witness mad
never seen the wires emit any sparks.
There was pole removed from near there
recently because it was in the way of the
machine. and the wires were lowered The
cd &c pa1 NV
Stewart & Wilmoth.
Michael Burke's Testimony.
Michael Burke, living at 21O Quincy
street northeast. testified that he is en-
ployed at square $50 as superintendent of
construction of the Brennan Construction
Company. This company. the witness
stated. has the contract for grading and
excavating the square. The machine was
west of the wires yesterday morning. and
witness directed that it be removed TO the
east about sixty or ninety feet. In the
opinion of the witness the accident was
caused by the shovel becoming charged
with electricity when II came in contact
with the wire. Witness said he had never
found the wires in the way of the
chine, The wires. he said were not put
up after the work commenced. He
thought the wires had sagged since the
machine passed beneath them a month
ago The removal of the pole, the witness
said, made longer span.
Charles r. Stewart OF the firm of Stew
art a Wilmoth. contractors. testified that
his firm is engaged in doing some excavat-
ing on the square where the House of Rep
resentatives annex is to be built. His firm
is doing the work for the Brennan Con-
struction Company. Witness said there is
II high fence about the square, and only
employees are supposed to be inside the in
closure. He explained that one of the poles
supporting the electric wires was in the
way and had to be removed.
This pole. he stated was in the way and
Captain Hunt had il removed making a
longer span OF wire. This longer reach he
said. caused the sagging of the wires. al
though he had never had any occasion to
pay particular attention to it,
John I. Stewart. colored, told the jury
that he had been in the employ of the
Potomac Electric Power Company for sew
enteen years. He said he strung the wires
across the square for his employer and
four poles We're put on the square where
the excavating is being done. The wires
are known as No. b weatherproof wires
the witness stated. and the poles were
erected In an alley. That was before the
houses on the square were torn down. A
little more than month ago one of the
poles was removed. Witness said there
were plenty Of poles put in the square to
carry the wires without much sagcing
The wire in question, the witness stated.
could not possibly have broken of its own
weight.
Four Poles in the Square.