The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-12-25
v. ". P. CO. MURDERS
AGED AND HELPLESS MAN
Killed by Speeding Car at Corner
Where Street Light Was Dark
WHAT WILL CORONER DO ABOUT IT?

A feeble, gray-haired, old man,
small of stature, was run down and
killed at the corner of Fourth av.
and Brown st. at o'clock last
night by C Washington Water
Power streetcar that was being run
at such reckless speed that peo-
pie in the vicinity this morning
have registered a complaint with
the police department, and have
signified their intention of trying
to force Coroner F. P. Witter, also
w. w. p. physician, to hold an in
quest, with view to placing the
blame for the death where it be-
longs. so that the widow and Or
phans of the old man, if there be
any, may collect damages.
Scores of people have called at
the undertaking parlors of Smith
& 60. today but thus far no one has
identified the remains. Just before
the accident, the old man stopped
M. J. Brown, who lives at S27
Fourth, and inquired the shortest
route to the business center of the
city. He appeared to be very tired
and fatigued with long walk. Mr..
Brown directed him to go on to the
next corner and then walk north
to Riverside. ne old man thank
ed him and started on his way.
The official report of the accident,
asgiven out by the officials of the
company. Is to the effect that the
old man appeared to have fallen
upon the track and succumbed be-
fore the car struck him. The more
plausible theory, according to resi-
dents in the neignborhood, is that
the old man slipped and fell in the
darkness. struck his head upon the
track and did not regain conscious.
ness before the streetcar came.
For the past three nights the arc
light at the corner of Fourth and
Brown has been unlit. The w. w.
p. Co. neglects to keep certain
lights lit in various parts Of the
city every night, apparently in a
desire to save electrical power The
bill which Is sent monthly to the
city, makes no allowances for un-
lit lamps.
1t was this condition, according
to the irate residents, which was
responsible for the death. Added
to the condition of the street lamps,
a further complaint has been regis
tered regarding the excessive speed
of the cars. The body last night
was picked up at least 200 feet
from where it was struck. Passen-
gers within 1t are said to have
been hanging to their seats to
keep from being bumped about by
the sudden stops 1t was necessary
to make while under such great
speed.
G. w. Dow. a dairyman. who was
formerly employed in the health de-
partment, called at the morgue this
morning and failed to identify the
dead man. He has lodged formal
complaint against the company to
the chief of police. He lives near
where the body was picked up.
About o'clock last night he noti-
ueu luS Iouipdiy llldl thG oAicth
lamp was dark and informed the Of
fetal who talked with him that the
lamp had gone unlit for the past
three nights. He said this morning:
II am sure the company is to
blame for this accident. | have
frequently complained about the arc
lights in that portion OF the city and
also the excessive speed of the
streetcars. The police arrest au-
tomobile drivers for speeding, but
never bother the w. w. p. for.some
unaccountable reason. This was
the third accident that has happen
ed at that point on account of ex-
cessive speed. The first time the
car was run so fast that 1t left the
track and struck telephone pole.
The second time Mr.. and Mrs. Sar-
genson were bowled out of their
buggy, the car bearing down upon
them so fast in the gathering gloom