Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-06
SOME ONE NEGLIGENT
Verdict Of Jury in Drowning
Case.
INVESTIGATION TODAY
CONCLUSION REACHED THAT
DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL.
Contributory Negligence Found, but
the Blame Placed on No
Shoulders.

An inquest was held at the morgue To-
day. in the case of the two eieven-year-old
boys. Jettie Darlington and Lawrence
Owen who were drowned Sunday afternoon
iI a pond on the outskirts Of the filtration
plant. The testimony showed conciusiveiy
that the pool OF water was q death trap.
and that but few, II any, steps had been
taken to prevent the loss Of human life
there.
1t was In consequence Of such testimony
that the coroner's jury, composed of six
representative citizens and business men.
rendered the following verdict:
'At an inquisition taken at the District
Of Columbia morgue June 6. 1905 we do
say upon our oaths that Jettie Darlington
came to his death June 4, 1905, in pond.
at or near North Capital and Detroit
streets northwest. from drowning. We be-
lieve that said death was due to accident
caused by contributory negligence, the re-
sponsibility for which cannot be determined
by the jury from the evidence at hand.
We, the coroner's jury, respectfully rec
Commend to the honorable District COM
missioners that the police department
should ascertain where and when such
holes, ponds and other dangerous places
exist, and when SO located, should be i'm
mediately reported to the several pre-
ctncts; and that proper steps be Immediate
This verdict Is signed by the jury. Messrs.
Frank K. Raymond. j. 8. Wainwright. E.
E. Remey, Thomas Walker, Henry Newman
and Arthur Burrows.
The family of Jettie Darlington was rep
resented at the hearing by Attorney George
P. Hoover, and before the inquest began
much praise was bestowed on William
Jamison, who, although crippled having
lost the use off arm by: an iron bolt
being blown through it. nevertheless sprang
overheard into the pond and hauled one of
the lads ashore
The inquest was only held as to the Car
rington boy, as the causes of both deaths
We're identical.
The Testimony.
The eorQner's jury, after calling at the
homes of the drowned boys in company with
Coroner j. Ramsey hewitt. and being sworn
over their bodies, repaired to he morgue,
where the inquest was held, beginning about
11:SO o'clock this forenoon. The first wit
ness called was Police Sergt Daniel Stat
terry. He said he had been a member of
the force for thirty years. He is, familiar
with the pond in which Lawrence Owen and
Jettie Darlington were drowned Sunday
afternoon. The pool has been there since
the filtration plant work commenced. Orig
fnally the gully in which the pond is To-
Gated was about 100 feet deep, but it has
been gradually filled in. Witness had never
heard of any complaints about the pond
and did not know It's depth.
Policeman Henry Verr Of the tenth pre-
cinct was the next witness. He has been
member of the police force for nearly seven
years. Witness was on duty at the filtra-
ton plant last Sunday from o'clock in
the morning until O'Clock / nthe after
noon.
about 3:15 o'clock said Policeman
Verr. while / was stending at 1st street
and Michigan avenue, an old man came to
me and told me two boys had fallen into
the pond. l went to the place and found
two pairs of shoes and two pairs of stock
ir gs and two hats on the shore of the
pend. A boy informed me they belonged
to two boys who had gone down the road"
Witness learned later that the articles
belonged to two boys who had been riding
on a raft in the pond. They were too
heavy for the raft, however. 1t was some
time before he learned definitely that the
leds had been drowned in the pond.
But you saw the hats, shoes and stock
irgs on the bank when you first reached
the pond?" queried Coroner hewitt
Yes, sir"