Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-15
KILLED IN AN elevator
NAVY DEPARTMENT EMPLoYE
LOSES HIS LIFE.
Falls and Becomes Wedged Between
Car and Shaft in the Mum
sey Building.

>. i. Pennington. aged thirty-one, Of
1898 street northeast, fell forward in an
ascending elevator in the Munsey building
NJ y O'Clock this morning. striking his
mead against the iron of the car and be-
coming wedged between the car and the
smart. When he was taken out he vas
dead. His head and chest were crushed
The only persons in the car were Pen
nington and the elevator operator. Char
enee H. Peake. nineteen years OF age, Of
III 10th street northeast. Peakes story
after being locked up at police station No
/, 10 as follows:
After starting the car, with two pas
sensers. made no stops until the fourth
moor. The first man got out there and
left Pennington the only passenger. As I
started he fell from the rear end of the
car. turning around so as to land on his
back. did not know what had happened
for an instant until I felt the jar Of the
falling body and felt the car drag as his
head and chest wedged in against the
shaft. / tried to reverse the car to save
him, but 1t was too late
Coroner's Examination.
Coroner hewitt visited the Munsey
building this afternoon and made a care
full examination Of the elevator. Later he
viewed the body OF Pennington at the
morgue. and directed that an autopsy be
performed this afternoon for the purpose
of determining II death had occurred be-
fore Pennington was caught between the
elevator and the ceiling The autopsy. he
stated, might show enough to indicate IL
death resulted from natural causes or
from violence.
In conversation with a Star reporter
Coroner hewitt said he found that the in
NJ ftn ole nt0~ ut
at the time the accident occurred. He
said he had observed that many conduct
ors OF elevators in the city were not in
the habit Of closing the interior doors,
leaving space enough for person s
head to be caught in event Of an af-
fair such as that Of today's happening.
In view Of the circumstances surround
ing the affair. he said. he directed that an
inquest be held tomorrow morning at the
morgue. Witnesses will be questioned
was run. the coroner stated. and 1t will be
for the jury to determine If anybody is to
blame for the accident.
1t was stated this afternoon that ar
rangements for the funeral of Mr.. Pen
nington had not been made. The body
may be held at the morgue until after the
conclusion of the inquest.
Recommended for Promotion.
Mr.. Pennington was born in Backbone.
KY. in 1877. He had been employed in
the Office Of the auditor for the Navy
Department since June. 1908. and is said
to have been one OF the most efficient
clerks. having been recommended for pro-
motion not over two weeks ago. He had
been married little over a year.
AS soon as the accident had been com
municated to 3. ]. Price. deputy auditor.
a delegation was sent to inform Mrs. Pen
nington. and the Secretary Of the Treas
ury was informed of the occurrence by
letter specially delivered.
John A. Ryan, thirty-five years of age,
who Is also employed in the building as
an elevator conductor. was made Ill by
the sight of Pennington's crushed body
The ambulance was summoned from the
Emergency Hospital. but the physicians
did not deem it necessary to take Ryan
to the hospital. He lives at go Indiana
avenue.