Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28
RESULT OF ACCIDENT
VERDICT IN CASE OF PITMAN
EDWARD REESE.
Testimony Upon Which the Coroner's
Jury Reached It's Conclusion
Funeral Arrangements.

III the pit III lOiH anu II StiScsS ioithSoSs
yesterday morning. as published in yester-
days Star was declared by a jury this
morning to have been the result of an &C
cident After the inquest had been held
at the morgue the body was removed to
the late home of the deceased 467 c street
southwest by Undertaken Duvall. Arrange
ments were made for the funeral to take
place late this afternoon and for the inter-
ment of the body in Glenwood.
The fatal accident To Reese caused heart
felt sorrow to the employees of the street
railway company, among whom he had
been popular. Reese was one of the most
expert pitmen in the service of the local
companies. 1t is said he had a record in
making change from the underground to
the overhead system in three seconds. Only
a few days ago, il is stated, one of the en-
ployes of the railway company saw him
give signal for the motorman to ahead
before he had made the electrical connec-
lions. He was then warned that he should
be more careful.
At the inquest this morning the railway
company was represented by +. j. Mer-
Scheimer, the company's claim agent, and
Attorney George p. Hoover The former
was the first witness examined by the cor
oner. He produced a drawing showing how
the pit is constructed and explained how
the pitman performs his work. He also
explained what the motormen and con-
ductors do while the car is over the pit
and told of the different signals given by
the pitman and conductor These signals,
he stated, are given by sounding gongs.
Don't the ptman sometimes call to the
conductor instead of sounding the gong?'
asked juror
Il can't say what they sometimes do"
the witness responded. I'm only telling
you the rules of the company"
Conductors Statement.
George E. Kefauver. conductor on the car
a thn inap Yha rnif1
that he was on his car at the time and had
oheyed the orders he received from the pit
man. He explained that when the car ap-
preached the pit the pitman raised his head
above the tracks and motioned the motor
man to move ahead. The car moved over
the pit and stopped when one bell was
sounded. Then the car remained there over
the pit until the pitman had made the adj
justment and given the signal two bells.
to go ahead. Witness responded to the
| two-bell signal by twice sounding the bell
on the car to instruct the motorman to go
ahead. Then the car started and the acct
dent resulted.
Witness told what he knew of the duties
of the pitman in changing the current from
one system to another and putting on or
removing the pillow. The conductor said he
had been employed on the road a year or
more, and knew Reese had been employed
in the pit about six months.
Testimony of Motorman.
Motorman Humphrey B. Glaze was the
next witness examined He told the coro-
ner and jury that his car was moved yes
terGay morning in accordance with the
usual rules of the company. Upon APP
pl oa ching the pit, he stated, he saw the
pitman look from the pit ard motion him TO
proceed He moved his car slowly until 1t
was directly over the pit and stopped 1t.
The one-bell signal was given to indicate
| that everything was in proper shape and
| the car remained standing until the two
| bells We're sounded by the conductor, fol-
| lowing closely a similar signal given by the
| pitn an
Witness stated that the car remained
| over the pit d little longer time than usual,
| time enough for the change to be made
| from the underground to the overhead sys-
| tenn. When the conductor gave the two
| bell signal, witness started his car ahead.
| 1t had gone but very short distance
| when he felt the jar caused by the car
| striking the pitman and he stopped the car
| Immediately.
The car had started on one point, =
| stated the witness, land it did not go ahead
| more than three feet after the accident oc-
| Cured"
Although he did not believe the jar had
| been caused by the pitman, witness said, he
| got off the car and looked for the cause of
| the trouble. When he saw what had hap
| pered he became dazed. The motorman
| said there was nothing that he could no In
| the matter and he remained there until
| some men came from the barn:
Passengers on the Stand.
| Thomas Watkins colored living at Burr
! vile, testified that he was a passenger on
| the at the time the pitman was killed.
| He heard all the signals given, as stated by
| the previous witnesses, and also said he
| heard the pitman say: Put up the troll
| legs" Then the pitman sounded the two
| bells and the conductor gave the motorman
| the signal to go ahead. Witness felt the
| Earring of the car, and when he got off he
saw the body of the dead man.
| John Stewart, colored, also resident OF
| Burrville gave similar testimony He was
| the last one to get off the car. he stated
because he was lame The only reason he
got off was because he was afraid there
| would be a fire Stewart said he heard the
| usual signals given by the pitman and con-
! ductor before the was started from
! over the pit.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook was the last
| witness examined. He told of the condition
| of the body of the pitman and said he saw