Evening star., 1925-08-28
Jury PROBES DEATH
OF FIREMAN MANN
Coroner Begins Investigation
of Collision Between Hose
Truck and Street Car.

Testimony at the cOroner's inquest
at the District morgue today in the
death of Private James J.. Mann OF
Engine Company No. 21. Fire Depart
ment, who was fatally injured when
street car struck the hose truck on
which he was riding a Fourteenth
and Harvard streets yesterday. indi-
Gated that although the siren and
bells of the fire appara tus were sound
ed regularly Motorman Thomas O'NeH
evidently failed TO hear the warning
in time TO apply the brakes and avoid
a crash.
The jury was adjourned until Mon
day by Deputy Coroner Martyn on
motion of Capital Traction attorneys,
who said they wanted TO obtain more
witnesses.
DR.. Herbert Martyr, deputy coro-
ner, and other physicians testified
that death resulted two hours after
the accident from a fracture OF the
skull, suffered when the fire truck
was swung across the street from the
impact. pitching Mann off so that his
head struck on the trunk of a tree.
Two other firemen were injured in the
accident-Pvts. Howard J. Atwood. S14
Ninth street mort beast. q nd Walter r.
Matheny of 1900 South Carolina ave
nue. southeast. who were thrown from
the truck when Mann lost his footing.
Testimony of Witnesses.
John f.. Lyons. a plumber, of 2003
H street, testified before the jury that
he was walking down Fourteenth
street at Harvard when he saw the
fire engine approaching from the
West. He turned around. he said
ran out into the street and threw up
his hands in warning to the approach
ing street car, but the motorman paid
no attention to him, he added, prob
ably believing him to be a passenger
attempting to board the car at that
point, which is not a car stop.
w. r. r. Hines, underta ker. of 29eI
Fourteenth street. told the jury that
both the street car and the fire ap-
paratus were coming at the rate or
about 15 miles per hour Other wit
nesses testified that the noise of the
approaching fire engine was plainly
heard by them, but that the street car
motorman showed no indication OF
having heard it. Lyons added that
he saw a lash over the motorma n =
mead as he was attempting TO bring
the car to a stop. The flash was silni-
lar to those made when too heavy A
load Is thrown on the car motor, he
said
Chief George Watson Of the Fra
Department attended the inquest. At
torney Frank Madigan of the corpo-
ration counSel's office represented the
Fire Department. Assistant District
Attorney William Collins represented
the United States attorneys office. and
Attorney G.. Thomas Dunlop appeared
for the Capital Traction Co
A number of requests have been
made to the Public Utilities Commits
sion to have Fourteenth and Harvard
streets made a street car stop or fire
stop, it was stated today BY an oficfsI
OF the commission.
AS result, the commission investi-
gated and considered the situation
there, but decided it was not anv more
necessary to create a stop there than
at other points. The short block be-
tween Harvard street and Columbia
road, where street cars stop. had much
TO do with this decision, it is under.
stood, as well as the fact that sta
tistics fail to show any appalling num-
Der Of accidents at that intersection in
comparison with other street crossings
on Fourteenth street
Citizens Urge Action.
The Columbia Heights Citizens As
sociatton, however. went on REGARD for
street car stop at this corner, and
1t was at the instance of representa-
ttves of the association that consider
alton was given by the Utilities Com
mission to placing a car stop there
Mann was "a years old and was
appointed to the Fire Department
last December II. He lived at 1925
Abbey place northeast. He had
scarcely been month with the de-
partment when the Kann's warehouse
fire broke out. at which his conduct
and devotion to duty drew him an
official commendation from the Com
Selma, Ala, and came to this city
several years ago. He was an ex-
service man, serving two years in the
Army, and had been a conductor on
a street car before being appointed to
the fire department. He is survived
by his wife, having been married
three years
Other Traffic Accidents.
Albert Calvert, 32 years, 512 G street
southeast, stepped from the street
railway loading platform at Pennsy-
lvania avenue and Ninth street YES
terday afternoon and was knocked
down by an eastbound car. He was
shocked and his right hip hurt. He
reported the accident TO the police
and went to Emergency Hospital.
Joseph Fletcher. colored, Il years.
3S Fentou srteet northeast, received
a fracture of one rib yesterday after
noon as q result of a collision between
his bicycle and an automobile near
North Capitol and I streets. He was
given surgical aid at Sibley Hospital.