The Washington times., 1908-12-20
NJ. Fitzgeral, BallSton Resi-
dent, Manned Beyond Rec
ognition by Trolley.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH
VERDICT OF JURY
Victim Was Bound for Home With
Basket of Christmas
Provisions.

Returning from washington with
basket of Christmas provisions. NJ
Fitzgerald. a prominent citizen Of Ball
ston, Va, was struck by car OF the
Great Falls line Just below Cherrydale
carly this morning and instantly killed.
His left arm was torn from his body
and lay several feet away from il when
found, while the body was almost com
pletely severed. The head was so badly
bruised and cut that no features by
which he could be identified remained.
Motorman DOVES, in charge of the
car which struck Fitzgerald, had fran
tically applied the air brakes. when the
form OF a man suddenly Ioomed from
the darkness only twenty feet in front
Of him. but the distance was too close
in which to stop the car at the high
speed il was going.
Gather Mangled LiE,hs.
Ten feet from where Fitzgerald's body
lay his arm was picked up and five feet
further from his arm the shoe from
his right foot was discovered in the
middle Of the track, almost unscratch-
ed. Near the manEled body the basket
was found, UptUrned. it's provisions
scattered in every direction along the
side of the track. The victims hat lay
further away from his body than any
other portion Of his wearing apparel.
rhe accident occurred within 800 yards
o. the residence Of Coroner Ashton and.
before the life had been extinct In
FIJzgerald's body thirty minutes. an in
quest was being conducted on the scene.
A jury was lmpaneled. and a verdict
returned to the effect that Fitzgerald
avoidable causes, not due TO any neEli-
Eence on the part of the motorman.
Identified by Postal.
F:tzEerald's identity was revealed
through a postal card addressed TO him.
which was found in an inside pocket 10
his coat. As soon as his home was
found TO be at BallstOn. word was at
once sent TO his wife. Mrs. Fitzgerald
was sitting up waiting fC- her hus-
band as she had expected him TO reach
home about midnight. She knew that
he had taken a basket TO the city for
the purpose Of returning with the
Christmas groceries. and recognized the
victim to be her husband. when the
details of the unfortunate affair were
told her by the messenger.
Just why Fitzgerald did not get out
Of the way Of the car VIII probably
never be known, although the suicide
idea is discredited.
Another Narrow Escape
At the inquest the motorman Of the
last eastbound car, which passed
CherrydaIe before the accident, testified
that he had barely escaped running
over q man near Dominion Although
Fitzgeralds body was so handy man
cled that It was almost impossible 90
identify Il, the mOUorman gave it as
his belief that it was that of the same
person he had barely missed striking
with his own car a few hours earlier.
After the coroner's jury had rendered
its verdict, Fitzgerald's remains were
taken to Clements undertaking estab-
lishment In Georgetown. Mrs. Fitz-
gerald is prostrated and was unable to
leave her home last night. Funeral ar
rangements have not yet been made.
Fitzgerald is fifty years old and has
lived a great many years at BaIlstOn,
where he has conducted a harness buSi-
ness. He is survived only by his wife.