Evening star., 1909-05-07
HAPPENINGS IN ALEXANDRIA
JURY FAILS TO FIX BLAME
FOR DEATH OF GEO. sTRUDER.
Diversity Of Opinion as to Response
bility Brought Out at Inquest.
Parade Deficit.

DlnCy brought Out at inquest.
Parade Deficit.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, May Z, 1909
George Struder came to his death May
as a result of injuries sustained in a
collision with train over the Washing
ton. Alexandria and Mount Vernon elec-
trio railway at or near King and West
streets April "a" The foregoing was the
verdict given by a coroner's jury at II
o'clock last night after listening to testi-
mony of twenty-five witnesses for three
hours, much of which was very conflict
Ing. The jury, however. failed to fix the
blame. The jury was composed Of the
following: r. M. Graham. foreman: ]. H.
Fisher. George D. Hopkins. H. D. Kirk.
Kenneth Ogden and Harry White. J. S.
Barbour and II. B. Cation were present to
look after the railway cOmpany's inter-
ests. while John NJ. Johnson appeared in
behalf of Studer's relatives.
Fred Albaugh, Southern railway fire
man. testified that the train was travelling
at about seventeen miles an hour. Struder
threw up his left hand for the motorman
to halt. The horses took fright upon the
approach of the train. The gripman. he
said, did not stop until he struck Strud-
er's team.
NJ. M. Bostwick was Of the opinion that
the train was travelling at about ten
miles an hour.
Mrs. nj. Adamson said Struder suffered
from nausea after reaching the hospital,
and she also said he made several state
ments, but was not rational at the time.
Thomas l.. Risheill, passenger. said
Struders team was going very fast. He
fr1i RI Int Hou tn1o
slack down before the accident occurred.
Walter Ale testified to seeing the acci-
dent and said the motorman applied the
brakes when about ten feet away from
the team; The train was going very fast
and the team was being driven slowly.
William Oehlert testified to witnessing
the accident, as did Wilbur Cook. Och
lert said the horses were on little trot
and the train was going very fast and
the driver waved his hand at the motor
man to stop.
No Fracture Of the Skull.
DR.. w. NJ. Smith, who attended Struder
following the accident. said he found a
cut on the scalp to the bone on the left
side which extended to the ear, although
there was no fracture of the skull. He
said he diagnosed Struder's death as be-
ing caused by concussion of the brain.
Hugh Wiley said the train was running
at about twenty miles an hour. The
train, he said. was One-quarter of a
block away when the horses were on
the track. He said an attempt to stop
the car was made after it was too late.
James Bolton also testified that the
train was going at rapid rate OF speed
at the time Of the accident. but thought
Struder had time to cross the tracks
in safety.
BENJAMIN Baggett. jr.. testified that he
saw Struder beneath the car and pulled
him out and afterward administered a
stimulant. He considered Struder capable
of handling four horses.
Charles Bradfield said the train never
slackened it's speed. which was travelling
at about thirty miles an hour.
II. v. Kelley, who was that day serv-
ing as motorman of the train. testified
that he was at the curb at the opposite
side of the street when he first saw the
horses, and his train was running at
about eight miles an hour. He sounded
the gong and reduced his speed. bring
ing his train to stop within the length
of one car. He said the team was going
as fast as his train.
Frank Robey, brakeman of the train,
did not see the train when it struck the
team. and he was excused.
Struder. April "a last. was driving a
team of four horses belonging to William
F. Downey. Fairview Stock Farm, Fair
fax county, Va, northerly. when his team
was struck. He was thrown to the street
and badly injured He died from his in
juries Tuesday last Struder was fifty
two years old, and lived in Fairfax cOun-
ty with his wife and family.
Reports Loss Of $14O.
William o. Daniels, Fairfax county
farmer. who lives near the Episcopal The
illogical Seminary. reported to the police
today that he either lost or was robbed
of $40 yesterday afternoon about B
o'clock.
Daniels, who recently sold his place In
the county for $1,SOO, entered a cab at 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Union
passenger railway station and directed
the driver to carry him home. He says
he went to sleep in the cab and upon ar
riving home went to look for his money.
which consisted of one OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
bills and four ten-dollar bills, and found
1t missing. He had his son pay the driver.
At a meeting of the city school board
last night Supt. Kemper submitted his
report, which was accepted. The board
requested the city engineer to prepare
plans for grading and improving the lot
surrounding the new school for girls on
upper Prince street and it will ask
city council for authority to secure bids
for doing the work. Other business of
a routine nature was disposed of.
At a meeting of the city council for
Tuesday night next the executive commit
tee in charge of the April 80 parade will
ask city council for an appropriation Of
81 900 to make up portion of the deficit
incurred in the expense incident to the
big celebration. The committee in charge
OF the affair is also devising other ways
and means for raising the residue. The
matter will doubtless be referred to the
finance committee for consideration.
The sum OF $500 has been raised by
the sale of a portion of the inaugural
court of honor to the Watson-Flagg
COmDany of New York.
Notes.
The case of Anna T. Maubury against
T. M. Jones, which began Wednesday
last in the circuit court for this city is
dragging along slowly. The suit is 20
determine the ownership of feet IL
inches of ground. Seventy-six deed
books are being used as evidence in tine
case.
Mrs. Jessie c. Payne. wife Of E. X.
Payne. a former resident of this city.
died this morning at her home, 416 X
street northeast, Washington. The de-
ceased was twenty -eight years old. and
besides her husband is survived by two
Mrs. Payne was Miss
Butts of this city. The body will he
brought here for burial.
The funeral of George Struder, who
died at the Alexandria Hospital Tuesday
last. will take place at 4 o'clock this aft
ernoon from Sharon P. z. Chapel, West
End Fairfax county. Rev. DR.. S. A.
Wallis of the Episcopal Theological Sem
mary will conduct the services, and in
terment will be in the cemetery there
In the police court this morning Rosie