Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-20
A DEOKHAND CAUSED FHE
DISASTER.

DIR. Moore, the coroner, last nigh
continued the investigation into th'
cause of the sinking of the steamer Treu
TIN aud the drowning of Stanley D.
Posey. infant son OF Mr. and Mrs. ID.
Msurg Posey, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The
Jury was composed of Messrs. Robert O.
Graham, foreman; r. Lee Field, Mau'
rice Wilkins, August Oehlert, I. A.
Fisher and g. d. Hopkins.
The investigation was commenced at
8 o'clock and it WAS about Il O'Clock
before the dispositions of witnesses had
been taken aud q verdict returned.
F. A. Posey was the first witness who
took the stand. He was on the
steamer when she began to sink and
made his way u the wharf. His evil
dence was substantially as given to the
newspapers at the time of the accident
He said the boat was p MINUTES sink
ing. =,
He WAS followed by Noble Smith,
engineer of the Columbia fire engine,
who tJld Of conditions existing at the
dock and on the wharf when, in answer
to an alarm of FIRE, he reached tae scene
of the accident. The witness also de-
scribed re pumping out of the steamer
after she had been pulled out Of deep
water aud the finding of the body Of
the little child.
Mate james Beach then took the
stand, but bis stimony cast no new light
on the accident.
William Jones, colOred, deck hand
ON the steamer, and George l.. Roy,
colored, were the next Witnesses, but
their testimony was not important.
Joseph Williams, colored, who subse-
ouentIy took the stand, confessed that
ne was responsible for the sinking of the
steamer. II took some time and patience
in order 10 get the more important parts
of his testimony, but be eventually ac-
knowledged that after the steamer LETT
Washington Oh Sunday morning, May
8. that he went below for the purpose OF
lying down; that he opened the forward
port holes in order t. get sir; that he
was awakened by the steamer blowing
for her wharf at this port, and rising
hurrledly he went on deck leaving the
port holes open. Williams acknowledged
that the captain had given strict orders
against opening the portfolios, sud on
one occasion had taken him below and
made him close them.
Williams said he is Is years old. He !
is the man Attorneys Rosa F. Downing
and George A. Berry, Of Washington,
who represented Capt Davis and Mate
Beach in the investigation, declSr9L Sum
day night had given them au affidavit
in which he confessed he had opened |
the portfolios.
The jury subsequently retired and sf-
ter delibtr ting sumo time broughtin the
I'd ct
awe, the Jury fined that Stanley ID.
Posey came to his death May 3, 1908,
by d,owOing due t. the sinking Of
the stsamer Treut1n, of the Potomac |
Company, at Alexandria,
the sinking having been due to lack of
discipline and Encouragement on the
part of the company aforesaid, and prl-
msrily to negligence on the part OF
member of the crew, one Joseph l..
Williams, be having testified to open.
ing the forward porS holes on each aide
while the boat wRs underway between
Washington and Alexandra"
Following the announcement OF the
verdict, Williams was taken in custody |
by Deputy City Sergeant B. b. Smith,
and locked mp 10 the station house.
Williams resides ct 7l74 Delaware
avenue, southwest, Washington.