Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
BOY HELD At FAULT
FOR HIS OWN DEATH
Coroner's Jury Says Lack of
Care Caused Fatal Accident
to Walter Dean Rose.
FALLS FROM CAR STEP
ON WAY FROM SCHOOL
Verdict Rendered This Afternoon
After Thorough Investigation
of Accident.

Lack of care on his own part was
blamed for the death of Walter Dean
Rose, the Western High School boy killed
Monday by falling from the rear step
of a street car, according to the verdict
OF coroner's jury which inquired into
the circumstances Of the accident this
afternoon.
The jury's verdict also declared that
Rose was not knocked from the car steps
but fell from the car.
Secretary Eddy Of the public utilities
commission attended the hearing and ex-
amined witnesses. Clarence Brandenburg
was present in the interest of the family
scented Chaplin & Sacks, owners Of the
wagon. and S. R. Bowen cross-examined
witnesses as representative Of the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company.
Paul A Donnally and Harrison H.
brushed from the car, were unable to
attend the hearing by reason Of illness,
1t was stated, resulting from injuries they
sustained. Alfred H Plant, jr., residing
at 1889 Euclid street northwest, the
fourth victim Of the accident. was on
hand carrying his left arm in sling.
Plant. who was the first witness ex-
amined. testified that number of boys
and girls from the Western High School
boarded the car at 35th and o streets
aside to permit the girls to board the
car first he stated, and he thought there
were six or seven boys on the step when
the conductor gave the motorman 1.-TWO
bells as a signal to go ahead.
Room In Car, He Thought.
Witness said that the collection of
fares and the distribution Of transfers
delayed the boys in gs~ng inside the
car. He thought five boys were on the
step when the car reached the delivery
wagon and the accident happened He
thought there was plenty room in the
car.
Plant was asked IL he knew there was
a regulation of the street car company
against persons riding on the car steps.
He answered in the affirmative. and
could leave the step and reach the plat
form.
Was the platform occupied" he was
asked.
1T was crowded" was his answer.
Witness helped carry one Of the injured
the car and went home. He said he had
a fainting spell on his way home. Wit
ness explained that the car was one of
the pay-as-you-enter t. pc. but there is no
door closing the rear platform.
Ralph w. Lasheile. also student at
was on the platform Of the car when the
accident happened. He was not knocked
from the car. however, but was swung
around and his hat knocked OF. He stated
Witness heard the conductor give no
order to the boys to get inside the car
He declared that Rose and Donally were
on the step before the car started
Boys Not Warned, They Say.
Fred C. Rose and Theodore Dewey,
Western High School students. who were
on their way home with classmates when
the accident happened. explained to the
Jury what they knew of the affair. Meth
er heard the conductor warn the boys
against riding on the car step and Dewey
declared that the car was running at a
rate Of fifteen or twenty miles an hour
when the accident happened.
CLYDE Heiss. driver Of the Chaplin and
Sachs team, and James Wesley Taylor.
his helper. told Of having stopped the
team on the south side of o street Mon
day afternoon. They stated that the
brakes on the wagon were applied before
they left the team and entered the store
Of q customer.
q. Ludiand, conductor of the car. tes-
titled that he saw no boys on the step
when he gave the motorman a signal to
20 ahead. It is violation Of the rules OF
the company to permit passengers to re-
main on the step. he stated. and he al
ways tries to enforce the rule.
The first the conductor knew Of tho &C.
cident, he stated, was when he heard a
scream He gave the motorman three
bells for an emergency stop. he said. and
went back to render assistance, He did
not learn that moro than one boy was
hurt.
Dr.. Stanton Testifes.