Evening star., 1912-07-20
DEATH DRAWS NEAR M0T0RMAN IS HELD
Japanese Emperor Suffering Arthur Uerback Responsible
From Probably Fatal Disease. for Railway Accident.
PHYSICIANS GIVE NO HOPE CRASH WITH FATAL RESULT
Imperial Toxic John Caspar Killed CsiIu
Summer Residences. Yesterday Afternoon
EFFECT NEWS ON STOCKS TWO PERSONS SERIOUSLY
Exchange Resultof W. R. E. Company Car.
Coroners
Arthur Utterback Responsible
for Railway Accident.
CRASH WITH FATAL RESULT
John NJ. Caspar Killed in Cslliim
Yesterday Afternoon.
TWO PERSONS SERIOUSLY HURT
Capital Traction Car Collides With
W. r. and e. Company Car.
Coroner's Verdict.

i coroner's jury. following an inquest
lat the morgue Tins afternoon rendered
la verdict that the incompetency and
lcarelessness of Arthur rtterback. motor
man OF the Capital Traction Company
was responsible for the crash between
two street railway cars at 9Th street
and Florida avenue late yesterday
afternoon, which resulted: in the death
OF John Michael Caspar and serious in.
jury to Herman Williams and John S.
Bergman. The jury recommended that
the. District electric railway commission
take such action as IL may deem necessary
to prevent the occurrence OF such acci-
dents.
The verdict follows:
We find the accident resulted from
the incompetency and carelessness on the
part of Arthur Utterback. motorman OF
the Capital Traction Company, and we
refer, respectfully. to the District electric
railway commission for its remedial at
tention the necessary regulations to pre-
vent the occurrence of such accidents In
the future"
The jury was impaneled at the morsue
!, at 11:3O o'clock this morning, over the
the inquest was begun.
!, The most important testimony was that
given by l.. H. Sturmass motorman OF
the southboLnd 9th street car, and Ar
thur Utterback motorman of the Capital
Traction line car. Sturmass testified that
he was first engaged as a motorman
about two weeks ago, and that he had
never had experience in that line Of work
before For about nine days he had been
i running cars alone.
| Sturmass declared that he brought his
car to a stop few feet from the switch
| to the east of 9th street at the corner
Of Florida avenue. He sounded his gong
twice, he declared, and upon hearing the
gong of the Capital Traction car sounded
once applied the current and started his
car around the curve into 9TH street. ,s7
:, sturmass said that when the Capital
Traction car motorman sounded his
n gong but once it indicated that the 9th
street carshad the right Of EaS-over the
|. crossing. 81
81 Crash Results.
: / His car was about two thirds OF the
way over the crossing, Sturmass testi-
fed, when the Capital Traction car
; crashed into it.
William Gayhart. the conductor of the
9th street car. substantiated Sturmass
testimony so far as the sounding OF the
gong was concerned. Gayhart said that
he was collecting fares at the time and
that he did not know there was any dan
ger OF a collision until the two cars came
, together.
. Arthur rtterback. motorman OF the
) Capital Traction car. also testified that
he had but little experience in handling
street cais. He said ne had been employ
ed as motornaan ABOUT ten days.
His testimony contladicted that OF
! Sturmass with regard to-the sounding or
the gong. Utteroack declared that he
sounded the bel twice. and tnat Sturmass
: replied with a single ring, thus Indicating
that the Capital Traction car should have
the right OF way over the crossing.
Ctterback appeared to be very nervous
while testifying. and did not appear TO
be Ger ain oil seye. al tatements which ne
I made.
Policeman Testifies.
Testimony was also given by Sergt.
, Dean of the eighth precinct who was
standing al the corner of 3tn street and
Florida avenue and witnessed the acci-
dent. Dean said that soon as the cars
! crashed together he hurried 20 the eighth
, precinct station house. which is only
short distance from the corner. and call
ed out the ambulance
George r. Hoover appeared as attor-
: ney for the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and Thomas pun,op
L
torney Francis l.. Nubeck appeared Tor
Caspar's family.
Leg Crushed Of.
Before Caspar, who was standing on the
. running board of the 9th street car, had
, time to move the platform guard OF the
, Capital Traction car caught one or MS
legs and literally crushed 1t off. accord
ing to witnesses As soon as the 7th
1
, bleeding profuse!y. was picked up In
idying condition.
Other men on the running board made
a scramble for safety. but Berryman. =
friend of Caspar, and Williams were
knocked to the ground.
) The accident was witnessed by num-
Greds of persons returning home from the
ball game. The 9Th street car was ioad
ed to capacity with persons from the
game, but the eth street car had only the
p usual number on board.
Caspar lived with his brother. George
Caspar, 1893 7tn street northwest
J thorst Clup. and well known as q motor
cyclist. He WAS an ardent base ball
enthusiast. and it is said that he had
not missed q game that the Nationals
have played at home this season. He
leaves three brothers. George Caspar.
and John and Christian Caspar. and
one sister. Mrs. Charles Liesmann. Il
Quincy street northwest
When the crash occurred the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Company's
car, in charge Of Motorman Lewis H.
lSturman and Conductor William Gay
: hart, had practically completed the turn
from street intp eth street, going
} south. 1t is said. Tho Capital Traction
car. in charge OF Motorman Arthur
Utterback and Conductor W. r. Hall.
running east on street. caught the
rear end OF the running board OF the
10th street car. crushing Caspar. who
died q few minutes later, and iniuring
! Williams and Bergman.
Too Late to Jump.
Just before the impact one OF the men
on the running board of the 9th street
car saw the accident was inevitable and
yelled for the other men to jump. but az
the board was crowded 1t was impossible
l.for all the men to get out Of the way.
Each car had stopped at 9th street.
Motorman Sturman sounded two bells
and was answered by one bell from
Motorman Utterback. which gave Stur-
man the right Of way. He then started
around the turn. Before 6turman's car
had completely Strengthened out on 9th
street Utterbacak started and. though he
went slowly. the weight Of hts car strik-
ing the men on the running board slowly
ground to pieces the leg of Caspar and
injured the others.
Witnesses OF the accident hurriedfy
CONTINUED On Seventh Pase.)