Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-26
Carelessness of Bicycle Rider
ASCribed as Cause.
CORONER'S VERDICT
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES TO
FATAL ACCIDENT.
Aged Man Knocked Down the 10th
Instant at Corner of 9th and
M Streets.

An inquest over the remains of Otis T.
Bullard, eighty-nine years Old, who died
last night at the Emergency Hospital from
injuries sustained by being struck by BIZ
cycle on the street on April IL, at the cor
ner of 9th and NJ streets northwest. was
held at noon today before Coroner hewitt
at the District morgue.
After hearing the testimony the jury re-
turned verdict that Otis T. Billiard came
to his death April % 1909 at the Emerg-
ency Hospital from fracture of his arm and
exhaustion the fracture having been
caused by being run into by an unknown
white man bicyclist al 9th and NJ streets
northwest. April 13, 1903. We, the jury,
believe that the injury which caused the
death of said Otis T. Bullard was caused
by the reckless riding of said unknown
white man"
The jury was composed of Maurice A.
Fanzon. Henry Neumann. William A. Foy.
II. S. Donaldson, James NJ Pridgeon and
John Holmes.
Testimony Adduced.
The witnesses in the case vere Edward
Tankersley, a grocer on the corner of 9th
and NJ streets; Robert Walton, ]. G. Lind
say, groceryman at 10th and NJ streets;
Beverly Ross, a witness to the accident;
Sergt. j. l.. Sprinkle of the second precinct
police station and DIR. Martin of the Emer-
eency Hospital.
Sergt. Sprinkle took the stand first. The
witness told the coroner and jury that
Billiard was crossing 9th street and at
tempted to pass in front of a wagon going
south and as he passed the wagon a hi
cycle came up striking and knocking him
to the pavement. The rider, whose name
he did not know. was described as a white
man with red m-stache and T .edium build,
about thirty-hve years Old Weighing
about 100 pounds. Sergt. Sprinkle talked
last Friday with the patient. who seemed
to think it was an accident but said that
if the rider had been going at proper
rate of speed the accident could have been
prevented.
Edward Tankersley was the next wit
ness. He working in "a store at 9th
and NJ streets and he saw Mr.. Billiard COM
ing down the street. The next time he saw
him he was lying on his face in the street.
He did not the accident. The injured
man was brought into the store and his
head was washed there.
Was the bicyclist on the right side of
the street, was asked.
Yes. he was
When Robert Walton, colored. was called
h told what he knew of the accident. He
was coming down 9th street, he said. and
passed Mr.. Billiard The latter stepped out
of the way of a wagon and at the same
time bicycle rider was coming down the
Riders Hands in His Pockets.
When the rider saw the aged man. the
witness thought, he might have steered out
of the way if he had had his hands on the
handle bars. After the accident the rider
went down the street for about fifty yards
and then came back. He helped Mr.. Bull
lard into the store. jumped on his wheel
and rode off down NJ street and over sth
street.
J. G Lindsay was the next witness. He
said that he was going TO breakfast when
he saw an aged man crossing the street al
9th and NJ streets. He corroberated the
evidence of previous witnesses in regard
To all the efforts of the aged man to avoid
a wagon and the approach of the wheel
man and the subsequent particulars.
Beverly Ross. colOred. described the acct
dent graphically to the jury. He said he
saw the old gentleman step out of the way
Of the wagon. that he saw a bicycle rider,
with both hands in his pockets run along
side of the wagon, and then saw the body
shoulder. knocking him over.
You are sure that the rider had his
hands in his pOckets?"
Yes sir
How fast was ne gong?"
About seventeen miles an hour, so far
as | could Judge said the witness
Witness said ne knew Mr.. Billiard.
Was he deaf?'
talked with him good many times
'Eyesight good?'
Il never saw him wearing glasses
DR.. Martins Testimony
DR. Herbert Martin, who went in the
ambulance to convey the injured man to
the hospital, told of the injuries, stating
that Mr.. Billiard was bruised around the
face, and had fracture of his right
shoulder. He said the patient died of ex-
haustion. He received no statement from
the dead man about the accident.
The jury at the close of the hearing re-
turned its verdict as stated.
Brief funeral services We're held over Mr..
Billiards. remains in the chapel of John X.
Wright Co.'S undertaking esta blishment al
! o'clock tins afternoon. Rev. j. W. Steele.
superintendent of the Central Union Mis-
sion, with which Prof. Billiard had been
identified. officiated. A handsome sheaf OF
wheat an offering by the board of
directors of the Central Union Mission. The
deceased was a member of the First Con-
gregational Church corner 10th and G.
streets northwest.
Mr.. Billiard was music teacher of some
renown and boarded al No. 1925 10th street
northwest, where he still maintained his
music conservatory The remains We're re-
moved to Wright's undertaking rooms
pending the coming of relatives from
Massachusetts, to take charge of them for
burial.