Evening star., 1909-07-10
NO ONE TO BLAME
FOR LONGS DEATH
"0ue Entirely to Accident"
Members of Coroner's
Jury Decide.
WITNESSES GIVE FACTS
AT THE INQUEST TODAY
Six Citizens Pass on Automobile
Fatality Friday.
CAR WAS RUNNING VERY SLOW
Opinion Expressed That Victim Was
Alarmed by Sound Of the Horn.
Stepped Back in Front Of
Machine.
Six Citizens Pass on Automobile
Fatality Friday.
CAR WAS RUNNING VERY SLOW

That James w. Long came to his
death July o. 1909. at the Emergency
Hospital, from fracture of the skull and
cerebral hemorrhase. Said injuries were
caused by being run down by an auto
mobile at or near, 18th and l streets
northwest. July 0, 1909. operated by A.
N. Laurence
We. the jury, believe that the death
of said James w. Long was due entirely
to accident"
The foregoing verdict was reached to-
day, few minutes after the six men,
bers OF the coroner's jury had heard all
the testimony given at the inquest In the
case of Maj. James Webb Long, clerk in
the War Department, who was fatally
injured yesterday morning by an automo-
bile while at the intersection Of 18th and
l streets northwest, and on his way to
once, his death occurring three hours
later. A number of friends Of the de-
ceased and the occupants of the auto
mobile attended the inquest. which was
begun at u:3o o'clock and finished short
ly before o'clock.
Policeman First Witness
Frederick w. Pilling. Ernest a.
Thompson. Charles r. Crane, Samuel NJ.
Darragh. e. p. Armentrout and Charles
kattleman composed the jury. Assist
ant United States Attorney. Perry was
IN attendance as the representative OF
Prescott, Galley and John Ridout looked
aiter the interests Of the men who were
required yeStefday to give 5000 sc.
curtty $orr their appearance.
!. SttSalnan 5eaan N. 2. Mccubhtn Of
Three automobiles at l7th and I streets
yesterday fnornlns. he aaid ATTRACTED
his attention. and when he reached there
the hospital ambuMnce was leaving
with Maj. Long. Mr.. Laurence, he
stated. gave him the names Of Witness.
es. also giving his own name and ad-
dress Witness was advised that Mai.
Long had not been seriously injured and
he made no arrest. Later Mr. Bradley
and Mr.. Green could be found, and they
were located at the Ouray building.
Witness was told that Mr.. Green was
instructing Mr.. Laurence how to oper-
ate the machine.
Mr.. Green gave his address as ESQ
Georgia avenue and said he Is an auto
mobile agent He described the accident.
explaining that Mr.. Laurence was oper-
dNu6 tiC uidCHIuS, W1In66S Dcdng seated
alongside him. while on the rear seat was
A. Y. Bradley. The automobile was NOV
Ing south on 18th street and was on the
right side of the street. AT / street q
broad turn was made. the, horn being
blown. Maj Long was walking near the
northeast corner OF 18th and I streets.
going south in the direction of the south
east corner.
of the machine" Mr.. Green stated, Mai.
Long attempted to get out of the way,
but did not succeed"
Witness said he jumped from the ma
No. 1 fire engine house and had mes
sage sent to the hospital for an ambu-
lance. Then he went to the Russian en-
bassy where Maj. Long had been carried.
Mr.. Lawrence Not Licensed.
who was. running the machine" wit.
ness was asked.
Mr.. Lawrence" he answered
'Is he licensed?"
mo, sir
Are you?''
''Yes, SIR
Witness explained that Mr.. Lawrence
had operated machines before yesterday.
when he was being given his third IN
struction as to that particular machine.
Mr.. Lawrence, declared witness. operated
the machine at the time OF the accident
as well as the witness could have handled
II.
The automobile was running at a speed
of about five miles an hour at the time
the accident happened. When the ac-
cident occurred and 1t was seen that
Maj. Long was beneath the machine.
Lawrence moved It ahead. Witness did
not see Mai. Long until he had left the
sidewalk.
was there anything the matter with
the machine?'' Mr.. Perry asked.
witness explained that Maj. Long had
started to return to the north when he
was struck.
Had he gone ahead" said witness.
..he would not have been struck
Mr.. Lawrence. the next witness. testi-
fed that he was operating the automo-
bile yesterday morning. having left tho
Cook & Stoddard garage shortly after
he had breakfast. He was going to the
automobile company. Witness expressed
the belief that the automobile was going
at rate of speed not In excess Of
eight miles an hour. At 18th and
wide turn into street. Witness swung
his machine to the left to pass behind
Maj. Long. blowing his horn In order
to warn persons who were on the side
alarmed Maj. Long. and caused him to
step back toward the north. Witness
ran his machine a short distance ahead
and alighted. He gave his name. house
then went to the hospital to inquire about
the condition Of the injured man.
Lost His Nerve.
Mr.. Lawrence said he walked toward
Maj. Long when he got out Of the vehicle.
but lost his nerve and had to hold to the
machine to brace himself. Witness said
he had had considerable experience with
automobiles, driving car four years
ago for the first time. He explained that
he is an electrical engineer and has made
a study of gasoline cars. From time to
time. he said, until about eighteen
months ago, he frequently operated ma
chimes. Mr.. Green was explaining to him
the practical running Of the machine.