Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-16

1t became evident early in the coroner''
inquest held at the morgue yesterday
afternoon to examine into the death OF
Archer Christian Of the University OF
Virginia foot ball team that there had
been a cloudy understanding on the part
of some policemen at the game last Sat
urday as to just what the police regula-
tions, written and unwritten. require ir
certain casualty cases.
Questions of coroner and jurymen were
directed principally to draw out exactly
what had been done by four or five po'
licemen interested in getting the patro
wagon, in the handling of Archer ChriS
tan and in the trouble with the doctors
and with Andrew Christian. who tried
to hoard the patrol wagon on the way
to the hospital.
Verdict Of Coroner's Jury.
The verdict held no one criminally re-
sponsible for the young halfback's death
but advises a revision OF certain police
rules. 1t was as follows:
1--WE find that Archer Christian died
at the Georgetown University Hos
pital November IA Of injuries acct
dentally received in foot ball game,
and that no one can be held GRIM
inally responsible for his death.
I'VE regret that the handling OF
the situation by the police appears
from the evidence to be open to Sc
rious criticism, though in no way con-
tributing. directly or indirectly, to
the death of said Christian.
I'VE recommend TO the District
Commissioners that not only a care
full revision Of the rules. governing the
conduct of the police in casualty cases
be made. but that the members Of the
force be required to have clear
knowledge of Them"
The verdict was signed by the jury
composed of Ward Theron. Thomas C.
Noyes. s. Logan Owens, John F. VIII
kins, w. P. Carr and w. B. Carr.
The witnesses whose testimony bore
directly on the police part Of the tragedy
were Deputy Coroner Glazebrook. DR.
Howard Hume. George E: Plaster, jr, be-
sides Capt. Henry Schneider OF the
seventh precinct. Frank Lear. the police
man in charge Of the patrol wagon. and
Sergt. McQuade. who was on the rear
Of the patrol wagon part of the time
the dying boy was in It,
0lazebrook Criticises Police.
After c. NJ. Willoughby, a newspaper
man. and had given his eyewitness OF
the accident and how the boy was car
ried from the field. Dr. Glazebrook STEP
ped from his position at the left of the
coroner and told his story. He had
watched nearly every play in the game
from the side lines through field glasses
He saw Archer Christian when the &C.
cident occurred, and sent the Virginia
trainer running on to the field. saying
the player is badly hurt" DR.. Glaze
brook was at the boys side as soon as
he was carried from the gridirOn, and
seeing Immediately that something serious
had happened. attempted a hypodermic.
-
swayed. The needle broke. making IL
necessary to pour the contents Of the
syringe into the unconscious boys mouth.
DIR. Watts of the University of Virginia
came up at that moment. DR.. Glazebrook
turned the case over to him and started
He asked a policeman standing on the
side lines to get stretcher or an
ambulance.
For goodness sake. hurry. there's a
man terribly hurt back there"
Misunderstanding Of Duties.
The policeman answered. according to
the doctor, that he could not leave his
post. as he had been detailed to patrol a
certain space Of ground. This statement
was afterward characterized severely by
Capt. Schneider of the seventh precinct
as a clear misunderstanding of the duties
OF a policeman, as the man should have
left any post or any beat to help save
a human life.
reply to DR.. Glazebrook. There was
much difficulty in getting word to the
station.
There is no ambulance service connected
with the Georgetown University Hos.
pital, it was said. Finally the seventh
precinct patrol wagon was summoned.
DR.. Howard Hume of Washington. an
alun:nus Of the University of Virginia,
Joined the group of physicians around the
injured player and made the suggestion
way to facilitate breathing. 1t was
thought then that Christians neck was
broken, and care was exercised that the
head should not be jolted in any way, as
instant death might result.
DR.. Glazebrook said that the patrol
wagon reached the boy at Sis o'clock
His further testimony concerned the man.
ner in which DIR. Watts was refused ad-
mission to the patrol wagon and the ride
to the hospital.
Rough Handling by Police.
The policeman and others got the in
jured boy in the wagon as quickly as
possible and then the wagon started to
go. The door slammed and a crowd fol.
lowed.
Il saw DIR. Watts and DR.. Hume fol-
lowing excitedly trying to gain a foot
hold on the rear of the wagon. I saw the
policeman trying to keep them away. Lei
them on, they're DOCTORS l cried.
Finally DR.. Watts, who Vas just about
giving up hope. sprinted ahead and
jumped on. DIR. Hume got on somehow
from the front.
Then 1 saw Andrew Christian try tc
get hold on the 1ear OK the wagon, and
saw the policeman trying to keep him
of One man raised his club and I grab.
bed it, saying. Don't hit? That's thi.
boys brother
For his own reasons. DIR. Watts told
the man in charge OF the ambulance tC
drive to Providence Hospital.
Mo- said the policeman Georgetowr
University or nothing. Don't go any.
where else
Capt. Schneider's Testimony.
Capt. Schneider told of the police ar.
rangements he had made. He had thir-
teen Of his own men and twenty-five from
other precincts on hand.
He il positive that the two policemen
who refused to stir from their posts are
not in his command. He had been unable
to find out who they are up to the close
Of the inquest last night.
He was near Archer Christian while
he lay on the ground under the doc
tors care. He left there for a few
minutes to attend to the regular pOlIcA