Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-06
KILLING Of JAS. F|NNELL,
Coroner's Jury Returns Verdict Ex'
onerating Crew Of Re-
spOnsibility.

Ine detdllS ID connection Will 'he
killing of James Finnell by an incom-
| ing electric train at The north end
| of the railway viaduct near Spring
Park yesterday afternoon. were as
lcertained al the coroner's inquest
held at Wheatley's undertaking es-
1ablishment at ten o'clock this morn
ing. The main facts in Gonnection
with the accident were given in yes
terday's Gazette. The deceased was
g. years old.
His grandson, Milton Hansborcugh
) years old had A narrow escape from
similar fate. The lad was knock
ed to one side by the car. He was
taken 10 the Alexandria Hospital,
where il was found that he was only
fsnffering from a slightly sprained
back, and was discharged last night.
The inquest was conducted by DR..
S. p. Moore. the coroner. The fol-
lowing composed the jury: R. NJ.
Graham. foreman: j Fl. Fisher. w.
p. Taylor. S. w. Pitts. J. B. Martin.
and W. p. Kerrick.
W. n. Vanhorn. the motorman. was
first placed upon the stand. lie
stated that the train left Washington
at 1850 for this city. When about
100 yards from the spot where Fin
nell and his grandson were standing.
he saw them and sounded his whistle.
They were then OH the east track,
used by north bound srains. When
the train was within 80 feel Of them.
Finnell and the child walked on the
west track, that used by south bound
trains. The train was then running
al a rate Of 20 miles an hour. The
motorman said he repeatedly sound
ed his alarm whistle. but the man
and child, who were looking toward
the south. apparently at n passing
freight train, paid no attention to The
whistle. Hc Hlolpi h'"'' i' VIZ
mean time was using all the devic-
es al his command in attempts TO
bring the train to stop. He was
unsuccessful however. and the train
ran about 25 feet after it had struck
Finnell and his grandson. Upon be-
ing cross-questioned. VanhOrn stat
ed that he could not stop 4 train
running at 30 miles an hour in less
than IS or 80 feet. Witness SAID
further that he had been motorman
for % Years; it was the first time
he had hurt any person in an accl'
dent. The body of Finnell, he said
was wedged between the pilot and
pilot board when the train finally
cstopped.
Conductor w. c. Crockett next
took the stand. He was in the rear
part of the trailer when the accident
occurred. He heard. the whistllne
and felt the effects of the attempts
10 stop the train. He alighted from
the train as soon as possible. saw
the little boy on the ground and as
sisted in placing him in the motor
car and had him taken TO the Alex
andria Hospital. He corroborated
the statement of the motorman con-
cerning the position OF the body and
told of the work Of jacking up the
truck. removing the body and leaV'
ing it in charge of trolleyman H.
Shirley.
The trolleyman was next examined
His testimony substantially corobor
ated that of conductor Crockett
J. F.. Howard, q passenger on the
train, testified. but his testimon!
threw no new light on the accident
Percy Cliff. superintendent Of the
road. upon questions propounded b!
the Jury. said that the unfortunate
man was on the company's propert!
at the time he was struck.
The jury subsequently retired. ant
after being out a short time return
ed the following verdict:
We. the jury: find that James Fin
nell came to his death, April ., 1917
bv being staruck near Spring Parl
bv train No. 81, motor No. 16, of th'
Wasbington-Virginia Railway while
trespasing on the property of sait
railway company.