Evening star., 1917-10-21
SUGGESTS LAW FOR
CROSSING STREETS
Coroner's Jury, in Bernhart
Case, Recommends Use
of Corners Only.
LATEST ACCIDENT LIST

I'VE further recommend that a regu-
lation requiring pedestrians to Cross
the streets at the proper crossings be
enacted and enforced"
Such was the recommendation OF
coroner's jury yesterday afternoon in
the case Of John Bernhart OF Soldiers
Home, who was killed by a motor
truck operated by Hayes Jackson. col
ored, at 7th and streets, Friday
night Jackson was exonerated Of
blame.
1t was testified that the veteran was
crossing diagonally from the north
west to the southeast corner Of 7th
and N streets in a driving rain and
that the motor truck was moving at q
slow rate Of speed when he was struck.
Coroner Nevitt and Deputy Coroner
Carr offered the suggestion that YER
diets In accident cases in which Pc
destrians have been killed will show
than 60 per cent of them. The ver-
dict in the Bernhart case will be trans
mitted to the District Commissioners.
Unidentified White Man Killed.
An inquest also was held at the
morgue yesterday afternoon in the
case of the unidentified white man
whose body was found on the railroad
tracks at 7th and c streets southwest
yesterday morning. The jury reached
the conclusion that he was killed by
train, but no witnesses to the killing
were found.
Safety First Talks to Pupils.
Safety first talks given by Tranic
Sergt. William S. Shelby to public school
pupils last week deeply interested the
children in the campaign that is being
waged to reduce the number of acct-
dents. He gave talks in both white and
colored schools and was surprised at the
numerous pertinent questions asked by
the ..rsa children % at the close Of his remarks.
The questions some of the children
asked" said the sergeant, convinced me
Of the strict attention they had paid to
what was said and was a source Of much
qualification"
Sergt Shelby laid stress upon the
necessity for exercising care on the
streets. and told of q few rules which,
II followed. would prevent many acct
dents. Some Of the rules he laid down
were:
DO not cross a street without nrst
stopping and looking both ways; II the
street is clear for at least half a block
You may cross safely.
Less Danger in Crossing at Corners.
DO not cross a street except at q
crossing. for there is less danger there
than at any other point.
DO not run IL you are caught in the
middle Of street with wagons and au.
tomobiles coming in both directions. II
you stand still they will be likely to gc
around you without harm, but IL you
become confused and start to run, the
drivers Of the vehicles may also be-
come confused and serious results may
follow.
Always help a younger child than
yourself to cross the street safely.
DO not steal rides on automobiles OF
other vehicles.
DO not touch any part of an auto
mobile you see standing in the street"
Hear Motorists Explanations.
Lieut.. Albert ]. Headley. head of the
traffic squad. and Sergt shelby yester-
day afternoon. at police headquarters
heard explanations of motorists who
had been complained against for al
legged minor infractions Of the law The
ton would be the means OF accomplish.
ing much good.
Washington motorists are not anx-
ious to violate the laws and regula-
tions,' the lieutenant stated, land will
ingly respond to suggestions made to
them by the police. A discussion OF
some of the minor complaints may dc
more good than could be accomplished
by taking the cases to court"
DR.. l.. A. Walter. vice president OF
reporter that too much stress cannot
be put on Sergt. Shelby's suggestion
that pedestrians cross streets only at
intersections.
Hardly a day passes that police re-
ports do not tell Of accidents between
he cot a..
such cases the pedestrian has only him.
self to blame. They seem to forget
that the regulations suggest the street
intersections as the proper crossings for
them and give them the right Of way at
such places.
Motorists readily understand the law
governing the crossings" he added
'and most of them try to comply with
them. If pedestrians will use only the
street intersections In crossing the
ed and human life saved"
Police Looking for Autojst.
Police of the first precinct are trying
to learn the identity Of the occupant Of
an automobile that demolished the
bicycle of Russell Smith. fourteen
years old. 2S 18th street northeast,
terday; The boy was taken to Emer-
gency Hospital and treated for injuries
to his chest and legs
Robert Mccormick. six years old. 1I2s
Park place northeast. yesterday after
noon was knocked down by an auto
mobile operated by Charles Cohen, 1897
c street northeast. and slightly injured
The child was playing in the rear of
the car and was struck when Cohen
backed it. He was treated at Casualty
Hospital for an injury to his knee.
Marshall Ready. 510 NJ street. suffered
serious injury in collision between a
one-horse wagon in his charge and
and 7th streets last night about
7:15 o'clock. Ready was unconscious
when taken to Emergency Hospital.
While on roller skates on 9Th
street. between H and I streets yester-
day afternoon, Philip Mickens. twelve
years old. 2020 18th street, was
knocked down by laundry wagon and
injured. He was taken TO Emergency
Hospital.