Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-09
DEATH BY ACCIDENT
COroner's Verdict in Case of
Elder ReeS,
STRUCK BY STREET CAR
Apparently Bewildered When Caught
Between the Tracks.
HIS WIFE ILL IN SANITARIUM
Parkersburg, w. Va, Adventist Had
Just Placed Her in Takoma
Park Institution.
HIS WIFE ILL IN SANITARIUM

1
West Virginia conference of the Seventh
Day Adventists, who was struck by a
street car yesterday afternoon while
near the Peace monument. died at the
Emergency Hospital at $40 o'clock last
evening. bis death resulting from a frac-
ture Of the skull. The deceased, who was
about sixty-five years OF age came here
from his home, 1900 9TH street, Parkers-
burg. W. Va. to bring his invalid wife to
the sanltarium of the Washington Sew
enth Day Adventists at Takoma Park.
and had left her at the sanitari
only short while before he received
the injuries which proved fatal. Cor
oner hewitt was advised Of the death Of
Elder Rees and directed that a jury be
summoned for the purpose of holding an
inquest at the morgue today:
returned verdict Of death by accident
Elder Rees. it is stated. was one of
the most popular members of the Seventh
Day Adventist Church in the United
states. and his death will cause genuine
| sorrow in all sections. About three
months ago he was in the sanitarium un-
der the care Of DR.. f. III. Kress. medical
superintendent Of the institution, having
| OeeH operated upon. lie recovered and
returned to Parkersburg.
Left Wife's Bedside.
| Yesterday morning Elder Rees attended
the morning service at the sanitarium and
offered fervent prayer. Later he went
| to his wife's room and told her he wanted
to go to the city to attend to some bust
ness, and just before leaving her he turn
ed toward her bed and said: We'll dear;
are you sure you can spare me today
His wife ansWe cred in the affirmative and
he left the building. coming to the city
He had served In an Indiana regiment
during the civil war and several years
| ago was granted pension. His friends
think he was In the city yesterday to
| see about getting his pension increa sc d
and that he probably visited the Capitol
just before the accident occurred.
DR.. Kress hurried to the Emergency
Hospital as soon as he was notified of
the accident, reaching there before his
friend died. Mr.. Rees was unconscious,
however, and died without being able to
recognize him.
| The medical superintendent of the sani.
tariuIn returned to the institution and in
| formed Mrs. Rees Of the death Of her hus-
band. She had already been advised OF
the accident. Later Prof. David Rees, son
Of the decea sed, who is connected with the
Mount Vernon, Ohio. College, was mott
fed Of his fathers death. He started
east as soon as he received the news,
reaching here today. Two other children
survive the elder.
Served Throughout the War.
Elder Rees enlisted in the army at the
outbreak of the war, joining regiment
in Howard county, Ind. He served in
other regiments later on. and received an
honorable discharge at the close of the
war; Much of his ministerial duty has
In Vircyv,io bn
conference recognizing his ability by elect.
ing him president. He was looked upon
as a man OF noble character. was kind
hearted. and had a l0vable disposition, al
ways looking on the bright side of every
| thing.
Described by Witnesses.
DIR. Maclay. resident physician at the
Emergency Hospital, was the first wit
ness examined at the inquest. He de-
scribed the cuts and bruises that Elder
Rees had received. Deputy. Coroner
Glazebrook told the jury that lite found a
fracture Of the skull and several broken
ribs, in addition to the several cuts and
bruises.
Charles H. Turnbull. fireman at the
Capitol. testified that he saw the victim
when he was struck by the rear end
Of one car and knocked against the side
Of another car on the other track. Wit
ness was unable to explain how Elder
Rees got where he was when he was
struck by pay-as-you-enter car.
Emery L. Croft testified that he was
only a few feet behind Elder Rees when
the accident happened. His attention
had been attracted to the elderly man.
his actions indicating to witness that he
was i'll. Witness said that Elder Rees
made q move to get out Of the way of
one car and was struck by another car.
The eastbound car was not moving. He
| said that bells on the car were sounded,
! but the victim seemed as if he did not
| hear the noise. The car, he said, was
going at slow rate of speed.
Unseen by Motorman.
d. E. Miller, motorman. testified that
, he stopped his car in time to avoid strik-
ing the pedestrian. The latter, he thought,
| became bewildered and slipped to where
| the other car struck him.
Z. C. Miller, motorman of the car that
| inflicted the fatal injuries. was also ex-
amined. He knew nothing Of the affair
until the pedestrian had been struck.
DR.. L. H. Kress told of the treatment
Elder Rees had received at the TakOma
sanitarium three months ago. He recov-
! cred from that operation and returned
here Tuesday morning with his wife. He
was in excellent health yesterday when
| he left the sanitarium.
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