The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-25
STERLING STUART INJURED.
2J-TEAR-OLD son or RUTH MEN
cry STUART, THE WRITER.

S'ernng stuart, the tWenty-thre e-year-
old son Of Ruth McEnery Stuart, the writer
and Garrow T. Geer, the seventeen-year-
old son OF the Rev. W. Montague Geer,
rector Of ST. Paul's Chapel Trinity parish).
Manhattan. came from their homes in
Flushing, l.. l., on Thursday afternoon to
attend a beefsteak dinner given by Com
rany l, Seventh Regiment Despite the
disparity OF their ages, they have been close
friends for a long time. Stuart was a mem
her Of the regiment, but Geer was not.
C,eer, who Is about Q feet tall and Of athletic
build. looks at least 20 years old.
The dinner was held in the armory on
lark avenue. and the young men had some
drinks there, They took the last train
from Long Island City, reached Flushing at
half after midnight and went to a restaur-
ant where they sat talking and drinking
until about o'clock yesterday morning.
Mrs. Stuart has been in sanitarium at
Dansville n. Y, on account Of illness
brought on by overwork and during her
absence her big white frame house at the
corner Of Locust and Lawrence streets has
teen in the charge of caretaker. Her
ron, who is employed by the Long Island
E1press Company at Long Island City, had
teen boarding, during his mothers absence,
n % Union street, Flushing.
Both young men were drunk when they
left the restaurant. Stuart realized that
the Rev Mr.. Geer would be shocked II he
discovered his sons condition, 80 he sug-
gested that they go to the Stuart home.
There they failed to awaken the oaretaker.
Stuart had no key. A veranda runs along
the lawrence street side Of the house, and
the idea occurred TO the young men that
from its roof they could open a window.
They matched coins to see who should climb
the pillar, and Stuart lost.
No one but an athlete could have gained
the roof The pc SITS are square and smooth,
and the only foothod is the railing, which
does not come within five feet Of the caves.
Then, too, the caves project more than a
foot, and after getting grip on the rain
trough Stuart must have exercised great
strength, especially for one in his oondi-
tion, 70 draw himself 10 the top. But
at last he was there. Several windows
open directly on the roof, and il il said that
one Of them was partly open.
Had Stuart found this or forced one Of
the others there would have been no ac-
cident But his mind. awry as II was. had
fixed upon a window in the rear Of the
house. more than two feet away from the
roof Of the verandA and about foot higher
dow was a first story window, which they
had not tried to force because il was
ehuttered. Its top ledge, however, afforded
a footing for the adventurous Stuart. Il
must have been a perilous trip from the
veranda roof 20 this ledge, for there was
scarcely anything TO grip. When he finally
reached the perch he found that the window
was locked.
With his head or a hand Stuart broke
one OF the small panes, showed in an arm
and felt for the catch He could not find
H. 90 he inserted his head. The sash was
50 small that he could not withdraw his
head. Bits Of projecting glass cut him
when he tried TO.
Geer saw that his friend was caught like
rat in a trap and began to call TO him.
Don't YELL said Stuart I'm in
trouble"
Geer went to the veranda and Skinned
up the drain pipe. He saw that II was i'm
possible to aid his friend from the roof. 80
he went TO the first window looking upon
tho roof smashed It in and entered the
room.
i can't get my head out said Stuart.
you'll have to smash the window frame
Just as Ceer started TO do this Stuart's
head slipped out Of the frame, his hands
lost their hold on the sash and he fell fifteen
icot TO the ground Geer returned to the
roof by the window through which he had
entered and climbed down the pillar. He
he'd cut his hands in breaking the win
dow, and the pillar was smeared with blood.
He found Stuart PROSTATE below the window
His head had struck on the stone edge Of
the cellar stairs, and blood was pouring from
q cut in his scalp just above the left ear.
Geer ran TO the home Of John L. Bogart
the nearest neighboT, and asked Mr.. BogRrt
TO summon an ambulance and call the
police Dr.. Benoit Of the Flushing Hospital,
who came with the ambulance, saw that
Stuart's spine was hurt and took him with
great care to the hospital, where he was
placed upon an air cot. It was found
that the spine was fractured and dislocated
at the lower dorsal vertebTB. Stuart was
resting somewhat more easily last night
hut his condition is critical and the surgeons
would not express expectation Of his re-
covery. II Stuart il strong enough this
morning an operation will be performed
The cut on his head was three inches long,
but the skull was not fractured
Detectives Bowe and Bolton were 20
puzzled by the first appearance Of things
az the Stuart houss, the broken window
and the trail Of blood that Geer's hands
eft on the roof and the pillar, that they
arrested the boy and locked him up on
charge Of intoxication and Of being sus-
picious person. When he was arraigned
before Magistrate Connerton he pleaded
guilty to intoxication and sentence was
suspended, but he was remanded on the
other charge.
l.. NJ. Franklin Of Sanford avenue, Flush
ing friend Of his family, soon came and
had talk with him. Mr.. Franklin later
told the lads story 20 the Magistrate. and
Geer was paroled in Franklin's custody.
Police Captain Wolfarth investigated the
case and said in the afternoon that there
could be no doubt that il was an accident.
Geer went 10 the hospital and had his hand
dressed, but he was not allowed to see
Stuart, who was unconscious. Il was
said THAI Stuart's mother was not informed
II the Bccident, as It was feared Il might
affect her too seriously. Her sister. Miss
McEners, was at the bedside nearly all
cay.