The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-21
RICK
FACING
DEATH
TRIAL
MansIaughter Is one of Three
Charges Now Filed Against
the Prisoner

Walter E. Roderick, whose auto
mobile mounted the street car
loading platform at Twelfth street
and Pennsylvania avenue early
yesterday morning and killed one
man and injured four others, was
held by coroner's jury today for
the action of the grand jury.
Roderick is charged with man.
slaughter, driving while drunk, and
leaving the place of the accident
without having made his identity
known.
The victim of the accident was
Adgie Bowie.
The jury found that Bowie's
death was caused by a crushed
chest, a ruptured heart, hemor-
rhage; and shock.
Nine Witnesses Heard.
Nine witnesses were called be-
fore the Jury, seven of whom testa-.
fed they saw the Roderick car
travelling at a high rate of speed
crash into the loading platform and
run down the five men.
These seven also testified that
the platform was properly lighted
with red signal lights.
The only difference of opinion
among the witnesses was in. regard
to the number of passengers in
Roderick's car.
Ernest Grover, of Alexandria, one
Of the men struck by the car, de-
clared that he thought there was
three or four men in the car when
il crashed into the platform.
Henry F. Swabach, taxi driver,
who was behind the death car, also
gave an opinion that there were
other passengers than Roderick in
the car.
Crowd Jams Court.
The jury room was crowded
when the inquest was begun. Sew
eraI late arrivals were denied adj
mittance because of the limited
sating capacity.
Roderick remained calm. sitting
slouched down in his chair, his
eyes leveled on the floor. He
spoke only once to his attorney by
his side.
Other witnesses besides Swabachl
and Grover were Deputy Coroner
H. Martyr, DIR. o. II. Cyril, Of the
Emergency Hospital: Policeman
David McCutchen, of the First
precinct who arrested Roderick;
David Jacobs. of Alexandria, one
of the men struck by the car; AL
fred z. Colby. driver of a milk
truck, who saw the accident;
Henry Smith. milk driver. who
said Rodreick's car was going at
the rate of forty miles an hour.
and Edward King, of the Navy
Yard.
The dead man, a salesman for
the General Baking Company,
lived at 1909 Prince street, Alex
andria with his wife and two
children.
The other1 four men, who were
hit with Bowie were all released
from the hospital yesterday after
treatment. None of them was
seriously injured.
ROderiek Grief Stricken.
Roderick, driver of the death car.
faces charges Of granddaughter, driv-
Ing while drunk and leaving the
scene Of the accident His wife and
children, who were visiting in
Philadelphia, have been Informed Of
his part in the tragedy.
The death driver. grief stricken
at what he has done, is said to
have told Captain Brown of the
First precinct, where he is baing
hell, that the cell is the right
place for him after such an affair.
He told police he was ready to take
his medicine.
Among those who wit aesSej the
affair was Policeman David Nc
CutcheOn. of the First precinct, who
was standing nearby. He says the
five men were standing on the load
ing platform. waiting for an ap
preaching car, when Roderick's
machine mounted the landing and
swept the five men 'ff, Just as
though they were wooden sOlliers
ROderick's only defense so far
has been that he was drunk and
did not know what he was doing
w. virginians to Banquet
The West Virginia Society will
hold its annual banquet tonight O.