The Washington times., 1923-12-10

Basil Gordon Not to Blame tor
Tragedy, coroner's Jury
Decides.

Basil Gordon, pilot Of the ~
fated airplane, Elaine" which
yesterday crashed to the ground
at Half and L streets southwest,
killing Edwin Trusheim, twenty
one, Instantly, and injuring him
self, was today freed Of any blame
In the smash.
Expert Witnesses Heard.
Al coroner's jury heard witnesses
IN the case tell their version Of how
the plane hurtIed to the ground from
q 1,0O0-foot elevation, and army mir
experts were placed on the stand to
give s.theOreticaE' testimony az 20
how the accident may have bean
caused.
All agreed that Gordon was an able
pilot and was fully capable or coping
with any ordinary emergency In the
air. IT was the consensus Of opinion
that something broke In the rigging,
causing the plane to become lust
q heavier than-air mass Of canvas
and material
Gordon, twenty-eight years cid.
makes his home with his sfep1 her,
Maj. Gen. George Barnett. at 1916
| S street northwest. During the war
he was captain IN the air forces.
How he came to escape serious III
jury is g mystery
Trusheim. welI-known local anna
teur thcStrical star, was caught BY
tie heavy motor when it was torn
from its anchorage, and was crush
ed. II was his first venture Ia an
airplane.
Those who witnessed the crash
are at at a loss to explain its cause.
The plane was apparently sailing
along nicely when II suddenly Wav.
cred. seemed to pause in it's flight,
and then began the drop. witnesses
say the pilot franticalIy attempted
to right the machine. Had he been
higher In the air Gordon would AN
dOubtedly have averted the smash,
but the low altitude gave him too
little time.
Trusheirn.s brother, John w.
Trusheim. was an eyewitness. He
ran up and saw the mangled form
OF his brother lifted from the wreck
age and taken to Providence Hos
pttal. He did not know until he
reached his home, 30 B street south
east, an hour later that 1t was his
~ OSAANA = sOOSy k1C 1lt4Qa SGGu N4KGGt~
Gated from the wrecked plane.
Gordon's plans tor flying yester.
DAY had been made Friday. Marion
Law close friend, expressed a
wish to go up, and Gordon volun-
teered to take him up Sunday
Gordon went to Boiling Field accom-
panied by his wife, Mrs. Elaine Cor
don, a sister, Anne. and Law and
Trushcim.
Took Place Of Sister.
Law and Gordon took q fffteen-
minute flight, and the former was
so enthusiastic about it that Trua-
helm felt the urge to go up. Cor
don's sister was scheduled to so mp.
but she "lost her nerve" and TrUs-
helm took her place.
The plane was an old type Cur
tbs machine, and was not IN good
condition, according to experts az
Boiling Field. When Gordon first
purchased 1t he kept It in the 0pen,
and not until few months ago did
he procure housing at Boiling
Field.
Gordon told friends at Providence
Hospital that the accident wasaa
mystery to him. I'VE went into q
nose spin, and that is all that L
remember" he. said. His injuries
are not serious. hospital attaches
declared.
First Of Kind In City.
Yesterdays accident was the first
Of its kind to happen within the
city's limits. During the war nli-
merous air mishaps occurred around
the city, but none of them happen
ed within the city boundaries. Leg
islation prohibiting low flying over
the city may result from the crash.
General Barnett. seriously i'll and
on the eve OF his retirement from
the marine corps. was kept in ig-
norance of the accident. Gordon
also was not told that Trusheim
bad been killed.
Trusheim's widowed mother, Mrs.
Martha e. Trrshcim. was pros.
trated when informed OF her sons
death.