The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-31

oittl were very Htc1$cA.
Mr. Moore-i1 order to settle the cues
ton in my mind. let me ask you whether,
while you were making these Inquiries az
the eoroners Office, you also ascertained
how many deaths had occurred due 70
accidents on the troliey2
Mr. ForstaiE-No; did not ar the cor
oneT's Office. but I did get that from the
health department while ] was going
over the health department records.
Mr.. Mcore-I would ike 10 know what
you know about trolley accidents and
accidents on the railroads. or accidents
caused by any other corporation.
Mr. FoTstall-I have not that here.
Mr.. Sims-What has that TO do with
the use OF one sort or gas or another sort
Of gas2
AR MooTe-I think It has this much %
do with II. that We do not put a railroad
out Of business because IL happens 10 xiii
somebody in the course Of it's operations.
We 90 not GismsntIe the plant Of the
road, and I am quite sure We DO not
stop a railroad from running trains be-
cause q man happens 70 get in frons OF
train and is killed
Dir. Sims-But II one sort OF car was
more dangerous than another sort OF q
car you would favor taking the less dan
er0us car would you not2
Mr.. Moore-UndOubtediy- I am entirely
in favor OF any regulation that is reason
able
ny sfms-Thst IS the only question
here
Mr.. Forstall-Af the coFoner's Office /
went through the records The only rec
ord that he has is a book showing the
persons for whose remains he has is
sued certificates Of burial. and the infoT-
nation IS the date Of death
Mr. MOOre-PardOn me a moment;
do not wish to break in on you II can
avoid Il, but want TO know whether you
have any knowledge Of any instance
where a gas company has been Hluleted IN
( damages by reason OF the death Of any
one through the inhalation OF carbon
monoxide?
8Ir. Forstail-w Why. no; DO not know
OF any. at all There might be such cases
without nay knowing them. There might
be such cases No company have ever
been connected with has had any such
experience I think that the law is that
when the company delivers the gas at
the o1Elet OF the meter its responsibility
is ended
IN ao0re-I was wondering whether
you have any information due 10 that in
Al1A4 lpA AldA4E 81 Lfie Et4DlAtE ONCE
which showed that the death had been
traced back 10 the gas company. or
whether the inquiry was closed with the
inquest.
Nr. ForstaiI-Tes; il closed with the in
guest There Is no inquest at ali IN most
cases The cases Of accidents in which
an inquest WAS held are marked IN the
cOToner's book and there was no Inquest
on any Of these gas cases. except where
they were cases Of suicides Then they
we're simply passed upon as suicides But
the cases that were deemed accidental
after investigation by the coroner himself
were simply marked accidental" and al
lowed 70 90 al that
Nr. TayiOr-The company could not he
made liable for accident due 10 the negli-
gence Of the user Of the gas
Mr. Forstsll-No; the company would
not be liable where there was contribu-
tory negligence.
Mr. Sims-Cnless the servants Of the
company were concerned in it,
Mr. FOrstali-No I made an ANALYSIS
OF the records of the cor0ner's Office for
the period from July !. 1872 10 July J.
49, / had no object in selecting ths-.
period. but that was a period embraced
Or the two books that we're most con
venient 20 get at. and I thought il cox
cred q sufficient period Of years 20 eira
pretty good average. and especially as
there were not any great variations from
year 10 year IN that time the coroners
records show seventy-eight accidental
deaths from the Inhalation OF gas. Thas
Is. over period Of eight years
Mr. Taylor-That IS here IN the District
OF Columbia
Mr.. ForstaIl-Hsre in tho District az
Z .
IN because IL was marked ''gss poison.
but / do not understand from the records
just what i was. I think Il possibly
ought 20 be thrown out. The record was
that OF the death Of Mar West. seven
days old. and the entry opposite 4 IS
Gas poison Lamp turned low az night
Doctors certificate" There did not seem
to De anything 10 show that there was
any escape OF gas. Il may have been A
case OF smoke being given of. the prod
net Of imperfect combustion. from the
way the lamp was left: but I included
that IN the serenty-eight accidental
deaths. I analyzed this as TO the number
OF the residents Of the District included
IN that number; that IS. counted any
body Who was reported IS having been IN
the District less tsan a year as not being
a resident. I also took into account the
ages. OF the total Of seveuty-eight. -
per cent OF thirty-0ne persons. had been
in the District less than year Twenty
seven per cent Of the total OF seventy
eight had been IN the District less than
month over p per cent had
been IN the District less than
week and very nearly u per cent
less than day. It is pretty weil known
by people who have investigated this sub
jet Of accidental death that al health
departments are very lenieut toward SUI
eide. a health department VIII not give
a verdict Of suicide unless they cannot
possibly get out OF II, unless the facts
I are so apparent that there IS no other
possible conclusion II may b. that a
large part OF these transient deaths were
possibly suicides. those Of people who
came here to kill themselves. because I
noticed IS 7 went through the book that
/ in a large proportion OF cases reported
as suicides. the persons had been here 3
short time.
Mr.. Moore-IH other words. as far as
I your inquiries have gone. the responsi-
+ hility for the deaths has not been traced
back TO the company?
Mr.. Forstali-Nc.
Mr.. Sims-De you think this Is A special
resort for people wishing 10 commit sui
cider
F Dir. Forstali-I think Washington is the
location Of more blasted hopes than any
other city in the United States
Mr.. Sirns-fvu said people came hers 10
commit suicide
Mr.. Forstsll-When a man has been
here only q day. I think ne either COM
mitted suicide. or else he blew cut the
/ light and did not know what happened.
or he may have been drunk IL fact. in
/ one case the entry was made. Farmer
/ Never had used gas" I think that eiimi-
mates those people who have been in town
only a day from this consideration as 10
which is the more dangerous. carburetted
water gas or coal gas. That reduces the