The Washington times., 1909-10-22
BAKER LOOKS INTO
HUBBARD ACCIDENT
District Attorney Will Go
Over Evidence This
Afternoon.

Upon the outcome Of a meeting this
afternoon between United States Dis
trlct Attorney Baker and Deputy Cor
oner Giazebrook viii depend whether
the grand jury will continue the "a
yesugatiOn TO determine the response
bllty Tor the death OF Mrs. Gertrude N
Hubbard, widow of the founder OF the
National Geographic Society. who was
killed when Capital Traction car ran
into the rear of her automobile at Con-
necticut avenue and MacOmb street on
Wednesday afternoon.
Because DR.. GIazebroOk, who conduct
ed the Hubbard inquest yesterday, is
dissatisfied with the jurys finding he
decided that the best course was to put
the question up TO the District Attor-
ney's Office
The deputy coroner this morning for
warded a copy of the verdict. together
with the stenographic record Of the in
quest, TO District Attorney Baker, IN
whose absence Assistant District At
torney PfocLOf acted
Dr. GlaZebrOOk said this morning that
the verdict Of the jury rs unpTece-
dented.' The verdict says: I'VE find
that Mrs. Gertrude NJ. Hubbard came to
her death as a result of a collision be-
tween her automobile and Capital Trac~
ton car No. b. and that. fnasmuch as
we cannot come to an agreement as TO
recommend that the case be submitted
10 the grand jury for further irvesti-
cation"
Assistant District Attorney proctor
that he thought DR.. Glazebrook had
done right in view Of the Testimony"
The case win be referred to Mr.. Baker
upon his return 20 his desk.
Discuss Legal Rights.
There is today considerable discussion
as to the legal right Of the District au-
thorities 10 put both sides Of a roadway
out OF commission at the same time
and require pedestrians and vehicles to
use the car tracks in passing to and
fro o. that roadway According TO the
superintendent OF Highways. this au-
thority is in the law which gives the
Commissioners the right to close a
street when repairs are in progress. In
this the District authorities assume that
a roadway can be treated as a city
street.
In the case OF the roadway repairs
on Connecticut avenue at the MaCOmb,
Il was shown at the Hubbard inquest
yesterday that there would have been
tated the closing OF the roadway. which
compelled the Hubbard chauffeur TO
steer his car over the street car tracks.
According to Leonard p. Bradshaw. an
inspector IN the District Engineer De
partment. Il IS no unusual thing for the
Highway Department to close a road
under these circumstances and make no
provision, other than that afforded by
the space allowed for the railway
tracks, for passing vehicles.
The matter has been the subject of
GIlLlClSIn On several occasions IN the
past, and Il Is not unlikely that the
fatality which resulted in Mrs Hub
bards death will stir the District au-
thorities to make provision IN the fu-
ture for the passage Of vehicles over
roads being resurfaced and torn up
other than over the car tracks
In the absence OF Captain Markham
Assistant TO the Engineer Commissioner
IN charge Of highways, no action along
this line was taken UP. Superintendent
OF Highways Hunt visited the scene OF
the Hubbard accident with a view OF
opening one side OF the roadway. and il
is probable that this viii be done as a
matter Of precautiOn. 1t is admitted
az the highway office that Connecticut
avenue al this point is exceedingly dan
gerous, and that IL would be IN the in
terest OF public safety to make II less
50 without delay.
Conflicting testimony as to the exact
speed Of the car which crashed into the
Hubbard automobile developed near the
close Of the cOroner's inquest
Two witnesses, Major Henry g. Cole