Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-08
AUT0CRASH DEATH
HELD ACCIDENTAL
Coroner's Jury Exonerates
Hospital Doctor and Police
in McLennan Probe.

A verdict of accidental death was
returned by coroners jury at the
District Morgue today in the case of
Robert McLennan. 46-year-old stone
mason. who died yesterday at Calm.
ger Hospital from injuries sustained
in a collision at Seventh and d streets
Monday between his automobile and
a machine operated by Precinct De-
tective Arthur FINELY. The verdict
eXonerated Fihclly from blame i'm the
collision and DR.. A. M. Preece of
Emergency Hospital from imputations
~ negligence In his subsequent treat
ment of McLennan.
Deputy Coroner Herbert f. Martyn,
testified that the cause of death was
"tortion, or twisting, of the neck verte-
hrae." He declared it would be diff
cult from outward appearances to de-
ect the injury, and that at the autopsy
only the looseness around the neck led
him TO discover by post norton exami.
nation the twisting Of the vertebrate
there which had caused partial paraly-
sis and death three days after the ac
cdent.
He testified that there were NJ
broken ribs or other homes and that
examination of the stomach failed TO
indicate presence of alcohol.
Incarcerated After Crash.
The inquest assumed importance
today when it was learned that Nc.
Lehman had first been examined by
DIR. A. NJ. Preece at Emergency Hos
pital Immediately after the accident.
Following the examination McLennan
had been transferred to the first
precinct. where he lay in cell for
four hours under charge of driving
an automobile while intoxicated. At
the end of that time, police reported.
the Emergency Hospital was sum-
moned again and after a second ex-
animation by DIR. Preece, who de-
clared that nothing wrong could be
found other than apparent effects of
alcoholic indulgence by the patient,
was removed to Gallinger
Hospital late Monday.
When McLennan died at Gallinger
Hospital yesterday morning it was be-
lievcd that broken spine was the
cause of his death and report on the
case was immediately ordered by Maj.
Edwin b. Hesse. chief of police.
The first witness to take the stand
at the inquest today was DR.. II. M.
Chairman of Gallinger Hospital. He
said that upon admission to Gallinger
Hospital on the afternoon of July 4
McLennan complained of severe pains
in the back of his neck. He showed
no reflex action and was incapable Of
feeling heat, cold or pains. His sense
of feeling was gone. DR.. Glaubman
said. Two sets of X-ray. plates had
been taken at the hospital, which fail.
I'd to show the cause OF the trouble,
although indications of injuries about
the neck were vaguely present.
There was no evidence of alcoholism,
Dr. Glaubman said.
The patient, he added could not
walk or stand up. DIR. Preece mex.
-ook the stand. He detailed his exami-
nation of McGlennan at the scene of
the accident. as we'll as his examina-
ton at the hospital and in the first
precinct station house. He looked for
an injury to the spine and failed to
find it, DIR. Preeca said. McLennan
had the use of his arms and legs at all
lines, when DIR. Preece examined him,
according to the witness, and the odor
Of alcohol was present on his breath.
There were no signs of paralysis"
DR.. Preece said. II told the officers I
thought the stuff he had had knocked
him out. To me it appeared he was
although it Is hard to say
exactly when n person is intoxicated.
he first precinct"
Four hours after the transfer to
he precinct. upon being summoned
again. DR.. Preece testified he still
thought the condition Of McLennan
vas due to something he drank. but
ne stated that he told the police it
would be better to play safe and take
him TO Gallingef." That ended his
with the case.
Passenger In Car Testifies.
Arthur Padgett, 7I0 Thrty.first
street southeast, who was riding in
car July 4, when the ac-
cident occurred, testified that he had
met July 3 McLennan in a place near
Seventh and Q streets, where cider
was sold. He was not a close friend,
Padgett said, and although he scarce
Y knew the man. McLennan neverthe-
ess had stayed with PaGget at his
home over night. On the following
July 4, Padgett said, he. bis
l2-year-old son. and McLennan went
out for ride in the latter's automo-
more cider. lie said they both had
been drinking before the accident. He
added that McLennan was going south
on Seventh street at about 80 miles
an hour in his automobile just before
the crash with Fihelly's car at y
street.
McLennan was indicted and subse-
quently acquitted in connection with
the deaths of John Craven. 55-year old
huckster, and Hammer Eskridge, a
Virginia truck farmer. who We're
drowned December rs, 1928, when the
in which they were riding
with McLennan dove off the speed
way at the entrance to the narrow
bridge over the inlet from the
Potomac River to the Tidal Basin.
Policemen who dragged McLennan
from the icy water of the Potomac
testified at that time that they smelled
alcohol on his breath but &. w.
Stallard Of the Emergency Hospital
staff, who treated him, declared that
he had not detected any evidence of
liquor. McLennan declared the steer
ing wheel of his machine must have
locked as he tried to steer out of the
path of an approaching automobile
that was crossing the one-way bridge
at the time he neared the entrance.
He denied also that he was speeding.
The bodies Of Craven and Eskridge
later were recovered from the auto
mobile submerged In 25 feet of water.