Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-24

NleNeu the remains last week. Alter near
ing the testimony the verdict was reached
that the accident was due TO carelessness
on the part of Ball in the manipulation of
his engine.
The Testimony.
The first witness to take the stand was
Martin Fieles who was engaged as assist
ant superintendent of the garage. He said
he was standing alongside of Ball near the
engine. Said he was getting ready for his
nights work to charge the automobiles and
to run the engine after Mr. Ball quit work
for the night. He said Mr.. Ball thoroughly
understood the management of the engine
He said that just prior to the explosion he
had inspected the engine and saw that 1t
was not running properly-one of the en-
gines was not taking power" He said
they are oil engines. He said both discov-
cred the cause of the trouble and found the
boiler was not hot enough; that Mr.. Bali
had to pump in more oil in order to force
the engine.
Witness said this was a dangerous pro-
ceeding, and told Ball he had better shut
down the engine, but instead Ball had
, must have known he was taking a great
long chance of having an explosion. Wit
ness said he had never known of trouble
with the engine before. He said the engine
had never gotten out of order since he had
been there. He was decidedly of the opinion
that the explosion was caused by forcing
the oil at a time when it should not have
been done, and further that 1t was done
against the advice of the witness At the
time of the explosion the witness said the
engine room was in good condition. lie
said the explosion was so quick he could
not appreciate the after conditions. He
thought Ball was instantly killed. His body
was fully covered with debris Upon inquiry
from juror witness said Ball could have
stopped the engine when the trouble was
found, and thus have averted the accident.
Building Inspectors Views.
Alonzo NJ Lavish, local building in
spector, said he went to the scene of the
accident the morning of April d; said he
found the tall brick chimney down, floor
cracked and window lights blown out and
other damage. He said apparently the
force of the explosion was in the stack.
Could not give an opinion as to the cause
of the explosion Said he had heard the
engineer was trying to force more OIL into
the engine than the sparker would explode.
Mr.. Lawson explained the arrangement of
the building and smokestack. He said he
had heard the testimony of the previous
witness and his explanation of the cause
of the accident was to him perfectly plausi-
BILE.
j. I. Evans, another of the local build
ing inspectors, said he went to the plant
of the United States Express garage ear
ly in February to make an inspection of the
engines and said they We're working very
nicely. / mere Ildu, lie Sdiu- Dten Coiii-
plants of the noise and odor from the oil
engines. He said he made an inspection of
the ruins after the explosion and had come
to the conclusion that it was due to the
explosion of accumulated gases in the pit.
f. c. Curtis of the building inspectors
office said he had made inspections of the
plant several times week ever since last
October. All the building regulations, he
said, had been complied with.
Jesse Harris Evidence.
Jesse Harris. an employe of the United
States Express Company garage, said he
was in that part of the building used for
storage Was not near the engine at time
of the explosion. After the explosion he
said Mr.. Fieles called him. Said the smoke
was too thick TO go into the room for sew
eral minutes. He knew nothing of the
cause of the accident.
Francis King said he was in a room adj
joining the engine room. Said it was his
duty to light lamps under the engine. He
said he knew that one side of the engines
was not hot Il found it in this condition
and called Mr.. Ball He went in there to
look into the trouble" King said Ball
showed that he recognized that there was
trouble and went to work on the repairs
He said there had been explosion in the
pit about two weeks before the accident
That explosion, he said, cracked the cement
over the pit.
DIR. Glazebrook deputy coroner. said he
had examined The body and described the
injuries which had caused his death.
Fieles was called back to the stand and
said he did not know of the accident de-
Sfrihel X