Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-02
Verdict Given in Case OF
Frederick Hensley's
Death
POISON GAS CAUSE
Thirteen Witnesses Testify Including
The Six Men Who Were Overcome
Boys Body Sent to Manassas,
Va, Today For Burial

"Frederick Hensley cane to his
death by sufocation caused by in
haling impure air charged with pois-
onous gases from chiefly carbonic
acid or carbon doxide in Q tank on
the premises Of the National Fruit
Company at 1880 a. m, September go
1922. and in the opinion of the jury
his death could have been avoided by
proper precautions"
The foregoing was the verdict given
by a cororer's jury summoned by
DR.. T. NJ. Jones, coroner, which met
Saturday night at Wheatley's Lnder-
taking chapel. Among the witnesses
to testify were the six employees of
the plant who were overcome by the
poisonous gases when they endeav-
ored to rescue Hensley
The jury was composed of the
following: Thomas Chauncey, fore
man; Charles p Waller, Warren NJ.
Peake. John Ii. Fisher, J. Walter
Langley and I G. Longerbeam.
The body OF Hensley today was
forwarded to Manassas. Va, at which
place the burial will be made. The
remains were accompanied by his
mother and TWO sisters.
The testimony of thirteen witnes-
ses was heard by the coroner, all of
whom are employed at The plant of
the National Fruit Product Company
NJ. c Bale, foreman at the plant.
was the first witness called. Accord
ing to witness the tank was to be
cleaned out Saturday morning and
Hensley and other men entered the
tank. They were to remove the boards
covering the apple skins and cores,
the boards being about eight feet
from the Top md the tank being
about sixteen feet deep. Witness said
he went to he lsley's assistance and
obtained a ladder and rope Bailey
said he lost to7sciyGsncSs.
The tank he said has a capacity of
27.00O gallons AMI was half filled
with skim TIensley he declared was
supposed to ,la . gsed q ladder upon
entering tue tank.
According to 'he testimony of J.
B Brown he obtained a rope and
threw it into the tank. Witness said
he felt the effects Of the gas and in
his third attempt to go down he was
overcome and lad to be pulled out
and ne was unconscious when he was
pulled out. Witness said it was Gus
tomary to use u ladder upOn entering
the tank.
S Cooper Dawson. director of the
company. told the Jury that he did
not arrive at the tank until after the
accident. For the past ten years wit
ness said there was an order that no
man go INTO the tank without a lad
der and a rope was a recent orCer.
Mr.. Cooper said he had never seen
a tank in that condition before F.
G Grab, a chemist. explained the
process Of the manufacture of vine
gar an1 also the teaching process. He
told Of arriving at the place some
time afterward and having anDlied a
match test and t.. lighted match did
not 90 out when he entered the tank
he said.
Clinton Talbot told the iurv some
one called to him and he secured a
rope. The men cried TO him 10 tako
them out Witness said he ~ot sick
from the effects Of tho gas but was
not overcome.
Testimony If James F. Young was
that after tying knot in rope he
became unconscious in about a min
ute
" T. C3atos testified that he helm
ed TO null the dead man out of the
tank. Witness went down four steps
on the ladder and became effected
he said.
It was testified by Josenh Soulos
that the dead boy swung down the
side Of the tank.
William H. Mcintosh told tho Jury
he also helDcd to pull the dead mar
or IF Tho tank
7 Frederick Gaede said that Hensley
went freely into the tank and stOoc
up five minutes and he went aheac
and made = scuffle. Just before tha.
witness said 80 remarked m another
, employee 70 60 down and help hin
and a man named 0ameron won
down. namero0 hc declared criad f.,
helm. Ho reached down and gave hi;
hand 70 Damoron an1 q man nomrc
Howell then iumped INFO the tank II
an effort IN save Henslev.
Cries Of helm wcre heard by F "
Dodd who haytoned 70 tho tank 90
cordinP 10 MS statement and h
fourd Hensley in an unconscious
cordition.
The i,,rv was told h. Tinwooc
Thorpa tAat b, iumro4 into the tan
- on effort n pet Hensley out anC
h. fell unconscious
Lecke Dampron said be followef
Henslav into tie tank and became IN
coreciouS
Nelson r Howell toll the iurv tha
il was CUSTOMARY 10 ree both ladde'
and rono Witness said that Hensle7
vas in bad share and he jumped int
the tank to save him.