Evening star., 1905-11-07
Verdict Of Jury in War De-
partment Elevator Case.
EVIDENCE CONFLICTS
WITNESSES WERE UNABLE To
AGREE AS TO DETAILS.
Elevator Had Dropped Several Times,
but Inspector Found It in
Good Order

''ONdNoluaDIe aCClQenl,t was the VefQlCt
rendered today by a coroner's jury in the
case Of Miss Margaret McIlvaine, char
woman. who was killed by an elevator early
yesterday morning in the State, War and
Navy building, described in The Star
yesterday.
The inquest was held at the morgue and
began at ID o'clock this forenoon. The
testimony was conflicting in many essen
tials, and the jury arrived at conclusion
similar to that which had been reached by
Headquarters Detective w. Z. Tyser, who
made a thorough preliminary investigation
of the fatality at the instance OF Coroner
j. Ramsey hewitt Detective Tyser was
present at the inquest and gave the coroner
assistance In conducting the inquiry.
The Surgeons Testimony.
The first witness called by Coroner hewitt
was Dr. Herbert E. Martin, resident physi-
clan at the Emergency Hospital. He told
of having received hurry call about $3.50
yesterday morning from the State. War and
Navy building. Arriving there in the am
bulance he found the elevator in the sub
basement with Miss .McIlvaine in 1t, with
her feet protruding beyond the floor of the
car. The woman was lying in pool OF
blood. In describing the condition Of the
body DR.. Martin said he found that many
bones had been broken and that she was
dead. The elevator conductor was suffer-
ing from shock, and witness understood
from the general talk that the elevator had
dropped from an upper story.
Mr.. William Wolfey, the young man who
was in charge of the elevator when the
fatal accident occurred. testified that he is
a watchman in the State, War and Navy
building. Each watchman is called upon
about twice month to operate the eleva
tor which conveys charwomen to and from
the floors on which their labors are per-
formed.
Had you ever received any particular
instructions as to the mechanism of an
elevator?" asked Coroner Nevtt
No was the reply. "Only instructions
from other watchmen as to how to stop the
elevator or to go ahead
Have you ever known this elevator
which the accident occurred to be out of
repair and out of commission" asked the
coroner.
"Yes. sir: about two months ago it drop
ped from the basement floor TO the sub
basement"
Witness added that he had heard similar
drops had occurred when other watchmen
were manipulating the elevator.
Did you ever protest to the authorities
because of the accidents?" Queried DR.. New
itt
Not directly" replied the witness "One
man protested and was called up for so
doing. 80 1 thought I would take my med
icine."
In describing the accident 10 the elevator,
which resulted in Miss McInvaines death,
Mr.. Wolf1ey said he took charge of the ele-
vator about $40 O'Clock am. A few min
utes past O'Clock he came down in the
elevator from the top Of the building to
the first floor Miss McIlvadne was on the
first floor and said she would go down and
get pail. She stepped forward and the
elevator went down like fash When
1t struck the subbasement floor the ele
vator bounded and rebounded like a rubber
ball. The drop was two stories. There
was crash as the elevator hit the bottom
floor, and all the glass windows were
broken. -''-..'
Elevator Was Locked
The witness said he was sure the elevator
was locked when Miss MeIlwaine stepped
half way into it. 1t was in evidence that
the elevator was still locked when Coroner
hewitt reached the scene some time later.
do you know why this elevator was used
to carry charWomeu freight?" asked
Coroner hewitt
Witness said he did not. There are two
passenger elevators in the north end OF the
building. two in the south and two in each
of the east and west ends. Mr.. Wolhey
said he was positive he did not unlock the
elevator lever as he was waiting for her
to get on so he could close the door before
unlocking the lever. The witness had heard
Miss McIlvaine express fear about getting
into this elevator because it had dropped
before. She explained that she rode In It
to save herself from climbing many flights
OF stairs.
w l. IlNdnS, lnt DlStTiCl OF
Columbia inspector of elevators, testified
that he inspected the elevator on which
the fatality occrred at the State. War and
Navy building after the occurrence yester-
day, but could find nothing wrong with the
elevator. All the parts appeared to be In
good condition.
Il came to the conclusion that the acct
dent did not occur because of any defect
of its mechanical parts" said the Inspector
In my opinion the woman stumbled and
the conductor, in his efforts to save her
from falling, turned the lever and the acci-
dent occurred
LAS the elevator is in building of the
general government" added inspector
Evans, ''it does not come within the official
Jurisdiction of the District OF Columbia. I
was called into the case by Coroner hewitt
as an expert. l found the lever was
locked"
chief Engineer Daniel Johnson of the
War. State and Navy building testified
that the running parts of the elevator We're
in good order He did not remember of any
accident having happened to this elevator.
except that the notch slipped several weeks
ago when a heavy case was placed on it.
Assistant Engineer Robert B. Randall
said he was inspector of elevators for the
State. War and Navy building. The eleva-
tors are inspected every day, he said The
elevator on which the accident occurred
had not been repaired for months and he
had never known of 1t having dropped be-
fore.
Called Elevator Cranky"
Lieut.. William T.. Dalton of the watch
force said he had heard of the charwomen
talking together several occasions re-
Gently about this particular elevator being
cranky. as they expressed it.
Watchman McNalIy had heard rumors
that the elevator was rot safe, but he
had no personal knowledge of such con-
dition.
Amanda Dorsey, colored charwoman.
caused a ripple of surprise by her state
ment that as she attempted to put her
foot on the elevator, while she was
standing on the basement floor, it shot
downward to the SUBJ basement. Also
that Miss MeIlvaine was on the car when
1t came down from above.
Il s rang back" said the colored char
woman. and as the car darted down [
heard a shrek. Miss McIlvaine was
leaning against the side of the car, in
side, as 1t went down.
Deputy Coroner Larkin w GIazebrook
described the condition of the woman's
body. The skull was fractured all the RIBS
on the anterior portion were crushed and
fractured, and the lungs had been pune
tured by the broken ribs, and the ankle was
broken.
THE body bore evidences of having been
caught and crushed" concluded the deputy
coroner.
Other evidence was given by Edgar w
Evans. watchman. and Harry Butler, a
colored elevator conductor of the State,
War and Navy building.