Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-24

In the verdict returned shortly after
noon today by the jury summoned by Cor
oner hewitt to inquire into the death Of
Mrs. Florence Slocum. wife of Maj. Her
bert J. Slocum, U. s. A., following a col
lision yesterday between the automobile
of Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell, in which
she was riding, and trolley car of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany, it was declared that the fatality
was directly due to the failure OF the oc-
cupants of the automobile to observe the
necessary precautions in crossing the
tracks of the trolley line at Wisconsin
avenue and-Gaxfield street.
The crew of the trolley car are thus abb
solved from blame for the accident, unless
the grand jury should see At to make
still further inquiry into the matter and
return an indictment-and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney James Proctor was present
at the inquest in behalf of the govern
ment to determine whether further inves-
tigation is necessary. 1t is regarded as
unlikely. however, tnat any effort will be
made to fasten responsibility for Mis-.
SlOcum's death either upon the trolley
car crew or upon the chauneur or Gen.
Bells automobile.
All of the witnesses testified that the
point where Maj. Gen. Bell sought to
have his automobile cross the trolley
tracks was not n regular CTOSSiHe. IL
was stated that the ground at the spot
was very rough, and there was nething.
save the sudden turning of the auto, To
indicate to MotOrman Steinbaugh that
any danger was imminent. Motorman
Steinbaugh declared that in all of the
period he has been serving as a motor
man on the Rockville line he had never
seer. a vehicle Of any kind try to make
crossing to the high ground opposite Gar
field street Conductor Norris. who has
~ he a N OF
way and Electric Company for eleven
years. and all Of that time on the Rock
villc line. was positive in his statement
that there was no crossing on the line OF
Garfield street.
Passengers Give. Testimony.
Passengers on the car proved valuable
witnesses for the trolley crew, because
all of them who testified declared that
the car and the automobile were moving
at about the same pace. approximately
fourteen miles an hour. the automobile
about thirty or forty feet'in front Of the
larger vehicle. 1t was shown that the
auto was not more than four or five feet
distant from the trolley tracks when II
veered round, and the obstruction ioomed
up so suddenly that Motorman Stein
baugh had barely time to set his air
breaks before the collision occurred The
the accident, so that the rear platform
was opposite the then wrecked automo--
bile 1t was testified that all possible
speed was made toward Georgetown with
the trolley car after the two injured per-
sons, Maj. Gen. Bell and Mrs. Slocun,
had been lifted from the ground and
placed on the cushions taken from the
automobile on the floor of the car. DR..
University Hospital staff stated that he
examined Mrs. Slocum's body closely, but
could detect no sign of respiration or
heart beat. and he pronounced her dead.
According to Deputy Coroner Glaze
brook, the autopsy disclosed a fssure frac-
ture in Mrs. Siocum's skull. and he told
the jury that death was due.to cerebral
hemorrhage following a fracture OF the
skull.
There were a number of photographs of
the scene Of the accident produced at
the inquest by the police department and
by the Washington Railway and Electric
Company, all OF them intended to assist
the jury in reaching it's conclusion re
garding the responsibility. il any, for
Mrs. Slocum's death.
Testimony at Inquest.
The railway company was represent
ed at the inquest by Attorney George p.
Hoover. Claim Agent r. j. Mersheimer
and Secretary F. J. Whitehead. Assistant
District Attorney James N Proctor was
present in behalf of the government. and
Judge Advocate General George r. Davis
REPRESENTED the United States Army.
At the opening of the inquiry Coroner
Nevitt called Police Captain Henry
Schneider to the witness stand. Capt.
Schneider stated that he directed the
arrest of the motorman and conductor Of
the trolley car and the chauffeur Of Gen.
Bells automobile. Under Capt. Schnei-
der's order Policeman McGill Grove was
the first member of the department to go
to the scene Of the accident.
Grove, who Is precinct detective of the
seventh precinct, was the second witness.
He testified that he saw the body of Mrs.
Slocum transferred to Mr. Woodrufrs
automobile from the trolley car. With
Policeman Schlosser he arrested Motor
man Steinbaugh and Conductor Norris
and afterward assisted Capt. Schneider
in questioning them.
Edward Ward. the chauffeur, was next
called and said he is an enlisted man
stationed at Fort Myer.
Chauffeur Describes Accident.
Told to recite the story OF the accident,
he said:
I'VE had Just turned from Massachu-
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