Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
MEETS INSTANT DEATH
Horrible Fate Befalls Frank
Exum;, CoIored.
GROUND UNDER CAR WHEELS
May Have Been Dazed by Blow Pre-
viously Received.
THE POLICE MAKE AN ARREST
Police Making an Investigation-Cor-
oner to Hold an Inquest, Prob
ably Tomorrow.
GROUND UNDER CAR WHEELS
HE POLICE MAKE AN ARREST

Frank Exum, colored. forty years Of ags.
of Anacostfa, fell from train on the
Washington. Alexandria and Mount Yer
non railway, on 14th street near b north
west early last evening and was instantly
killed. Several witnesses Of the accident
Informed the police that Exum had been
struck in the face q few moments before
by a young white man, and all seemed to
think that the colored man was dazed by
the blow and that this had some bearing
on the fatality. The colored mans assaiI-
ant jumped from the train Immediately
after delivering the blow. and. although
he was heavily thrown. he quickly re-
gained his feet and disappeared among the
trees of the mali. A general lookout. with
description Of the young man. was sent
to all the police stations, and his appre-
hension Is anticipated.
Just where Exum boarded the train
was not determined. but when the atten-
ton of the passengers was frst attracted
to him he was standing on the front plat
form of the trailer. The young white man.
who was apparently intoxicated. at that
time occupied q position on the lower step
just In front of Exum, and the witnesses
agree In declaring that the former seemed
determined upon resenting some real or
fancied afront. He was heard to address
Exum in a threatening manner. and I'M
mediately thereafter he struck the co1ored
man terrific blow in the face. The as
sailant then swung to the ground. falling
heavily on the pavement and rolling over
and over Another man who was said to
be his travelling companion followed him
from the train and they ran away to-
gether.
Fell Under the Wheels.
Whether the blow so dazed Exum that
he was unable to direct hts movements or
whether he leaped to the ground with the
int oF inr hi 1a,,f h
ably never will be known. but the train
had proceeded not more than fifty yards
when he swung outward. He fell forward
and Immediately under the wheels. His
body was terribly mangled.
Responding to an emergency signal the
motorman set the brakes but Exum was
dragged a considerable distance, and when
the train was finally stopped his head was
under the front trucks. At the time of the
occurrence the train was travelling at the
rate of ten or twelve miles an hour.
Notice Of the accident was sent to the
Emergency Hospital and to the first pre-
cinct station, and the ambulance and pa
troll wagon arrived at almost the same mo-
ment. The body was taken to the hospital
and held there temporarily before being
removed to the morgue. Coroner hewitt
was notified, and he will hold an inquest
over the remains probably tomorrow.
The name of the dead man was learned
from papers found when the body was
cards showing that he was a mernher of
District Council NO. j. HaacarrieFss ana
Building Laborers' Union of washington,
D. c., and Vicinity. Another card indi-
Gated that he had been patient at the
Emergency Hospital about year ago. and
in the record taken at that time Exum had
given his address as Anacostia. ID. Z. FUR.
thermore. it appeared from the hospital
record that he had been a sufferer from
locomotor ataxia. The sum of 81 in cur
rency was found In his pocket.
Train Was Crowded.
The train on which Exum was a passen-
ger was the regular 7:15 local from Alex
andria and it was so overcrowded that all
seats and aisles were full, and standing
room was at a premium on the platforms.
Motorrnan Henry v. Kelly, Conductor
Stephen Sorrell and TrOlleyman Kinche-
loe comprised the crew. A loaded re-
volver supposed to have been the property
body after the train had been brought to
a standStill.
Information was obtained to the effect
that Exum's home was on Sheridan avenue,
AnacoStia.
Young Man Arrested.
A young man named Tom Ennis was ar
rested in Alexandria. where he resides. at
q late hour last night. and held for the To-
cal authorities. pending an investigation
into the circumstances connected with the
death Of Exum. Ennis was taken into GUS
tody by Oflcers Nicholson and knight as
he was returning to Alexandria on the
electric train which left Washington at II
o'clock. He was locked up at the station
house and the police here were notified. De-
tectives Grant and Trumbo were dispatched
to Alexandria to conduct the prisoner to
this city. and took charge OF him at lis
o clock this morning.
Upon arriving here Ennis declared he did
not remebmer to have had any trouble with
any one during the evening.
Ennis Is said to bear q good reputation.
He resides with his mother and sister at
3O3 King street. Alexandria. He was until
two weeks ago employed as a brakeman
on the R.. f. and p. railroad. but resigned
to become fireman on the Southern road.