The Washington times., 1905-07-28
DEATH OF REESE
DUE TO ACCIDENT
Coroner's Jury Holds No
One Responsible.
INQUEST OVER PITMAN
Four Witnesses Testify-Au Sure Dead
Man Gave Signal to Go
Ahead.

1--WE, the jury, believe Edward Reese
came TO his death in the pit at Fiji
teenth and Il streets northeast. .yester-
day morning. by having his skull
crushed we further believe his death
was due entirely TO an accident
This was the verdict of the coroneC's
jury which held an inquest over the
body of Pitnan Reese at the District
morgue, foot Of Seventh street south
west. at 10 o'clock this morning.
Four Witnesses-the motorman and
conductor on the car and TWO passen-
gers-were heard by the jury. All were
Figidly cross-questtoned by Coroner
hewitt and Attorney George 2. Hoover
who represented the relatives of the
maa who was killed
No New Facts
Nothing in addition TO what was pub
Iished in The Times yesterday after
noon was brought out. This was due
TO the fact that no one knew anything
of the accident until after the young
man had been killed.
Every effort was made by Coroner
NevItt 10 ascertain whether or not the
car had been started before Reese gave
the signal 10 go ahead. All the witnesses
agreed he did give the signal.
It IS believed that the ptttnan was
either paIaryzed by a live wire and was
unable to get his head into the pit, or
that ne forgot where he was and neg
Iected 70 duck down.
After the verdict of the jury was an
nouuced BY Morguemaster Schoene-
berger. the body was turned over to
Undertaken Duvatl to be prepared for
burial. The funeral arrangements have
not yet been completed.
Conductors Story.
Conductor kefauvner was the first
witness called by Coroner hewitt. He
told Of having felt the jar on the car
when the rear trucks struck something.
Witness Immediately got of the car and.
upon investigation, found the pitman's
body lying IN the center of the track.
Are you sure you got a signal from
Reese 10 put your overhead trolleys on
the wires before you did 500" asked
Coroner hewitt.
Yes. sir. " replied the witness. Reese
rang two bells and I let the trolley fly
upon the wire. then gave my motor
man a signal 10 go ahead
How far had you gone before you
felt the ear strike something on the
traek?" aueried the coroner.
only q few feet" replied the wit
ness
And you are positive you got the sig
was in readiness for you 10 put Up your
trolleys ana 50 ahead?' Coroner hewitt
inquired,
I am absolutely sure of it." said the
witness, who was then excused,
Motorman On Stand.
Testimony was then heard from Hum
phrey Glaze. the moLorman on car 54s
when killed the piIman. He said:
Il started from the Treasury al 8:14
O'Clock yesterday morning. and reached
the pit al Fifteenth and II streets north
east az $40 clock Reese was stand
ing IN the pit with his head and shout
ders out / stopped about i've feet west
of the pit. He waved his hand for ne
to bring my car east
Il started the car. lie ducRcd down
into the hole. He gave me one bell and
I brought my car To a standsull direct
~ over the pit.
a space o. tine a little longer than
usual elapsed before ne gave Two bells
as signal fer the conductor TO pun tn
troEeys on the overhead wire. AefaHy-
ner rang the bell over my head the
front platform twice, ana 1 started
ahead III one point.
LAS / was about to change the power
10 two points / felt a jar and Immediate
y cut of the current, wound up tue
brake, locked ny controller and got of
TO see what vas the matter.
When ! got TO the rear l saw the
body under the car. The conductor was
busy getting The names and l had L
help 10 get out the body.
Swore Reese Gave Signal.
''Ycu are certain the man in the PHI
gave twe bells as d signal to go ahead
sueried Dr. hewitt.
absolutely certain" said the witness
Thomas Watkins, cOIored, who wa.
riding GA the rear platform Of the car
was next placed on the witness stand
Witness said he heard Reese say Hole
it, when The center OF the car was di
rectly over The pit.
Hear anything else" asked Coronel
NEWT.
yes" said the witness ..Flr shouted
Put en- up, and then lie gave tWO bells
The conductor rang MS oeh twice anl
the car stared
the car had run over = stone on strIci
something else. 4 SoI or and saw IN
bedy On the ceatcr o. TIE TRACK
me geEL witness To JusIlEy Was John
Stewart. a siE-foot-taI coIuled man ella,
IL Sver1Ls, who limpad and used a cane
lie told as story IN a straightforward
way. ana III Il few words.
~ mats your occupations" he va
asked.
know anything o. a accident AZ III
pr neaE Fifteenth ara Il streets aJFtu
east yesterday morning. interrogatc
IAN know IS that ! heard one bel
from the pit aad me car stopped. an
then / heard TWO bells from below. Th
conductor pot zap AIS lr0Ieys and gay
the nuJ1rmau TWO bells
i heard the wheels strike somcthin
and everybody bul ma jumped ST, be
cause they thought the car was on frt
! Wa the last one OF cause / dldu'
want 30 get nay foot hurt.
When / looked uaaer the car / say
man laying or the tracks with hi
head torn 10 pieces.
Result Of Autopsy.
Deputy Coroner Glazebroo2s then told q
having performed an Autopsy on In
body. He said the s<ull WAS fracture
and the head mashed 10 a pulp.
DR.. GIazebrook said there were severa
severe bruises about the chest ana stoni
aeh.
Ibid you find any evidence that woui
warrant you in believing that This ma
received an electric shock? o. asked tn
Coroner.
There were no signs whatever Of III
vim T1T.