Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-07
Jury HOLDS FATAL
FALL ACCIDENTAL
William Horgan, Jr., Plunged
Into Alley From Fourth
Floor Window.

A coroner's jury decided this after
noon that an accidental fall was re-
sponsible for the fatal injury of William
Horgan, jr., 80 years old, an automobile
salesman Of 1894 Thirty-eight street.
who plunged into an alley last night
from rear window in the fourth I1oor
OF the American Building, at 1917 F
street.
Companion Left Building.
Morgan, with a companion, Paul Wal
ter, "a years old, of 1918 Iris street, eA-
tered the building about o'clock last
night. They stayed there for some time,
and Horgan plunged from the window
after Walter had left, testimony indi-
Gated. Horgan died at Emergency Hos
pitaI early today.
Walter did not know of the accident
until he read of 1t In the morning
papers. He went to headquarters this
morning and was questioned by Sergt.
Charles Mansfield of the homicide
squad, who satisfied himself Walter had
told all he knew Of the affair.
Horgan died of a fractured skull and
internal injuries. According to the COLI
ored Janitor, Sylvester williams, the two
young men acted as If they had been
drinking when they came in.
Seuniing Sounds Heard.
Williams said he later heard the pair
arguing and scumling in the building,
after he had taken them to the second
moor on the elevator. He then was called
TO the second floor, where Walter got
on the elevator presumably with the
Intention Of leaving, but Vas unable to
persuade Horgan to accompany him.
When Williams let Walter of at
the ground moor he was called to the
second moor again by Horgan, who
asked 70 be taken to the fifth floor.
OepoSiting Horgan on the fifth floor.
Williams said, he returned to the
ground floor and found Horgan's COM
panion standing outside the building.
Williams said he told him he would lose
ais job unless he could persuade Hor0an
70 leave the building, and that Walter
agreed to help him.
The two men went up to the fifth
moor, but Horgan refused to leave the
building. Williams said Walter then
took Horgan's hat, presumably with the
loea OF coaxing the owner to follow.
ana went down on the elevator and out
into the street.
Pair Hunted Policeman.
Williams saw Walter going down
street while he himself hurried
toward Fourteenth and q streets to
look for a policeman. There Williams
met z. H. McDermon, night watch-
man assigned to guard property in the
vicinity OF the American Building. who
also was looking for policeman.
McDermon declared he had lust
iouno an unconscious man in an alley
behind the American BUILDING. The
Waterman located Oficer Ralph r.
Cross OF the Traffic Bureau and the
three returned to the scene after teIe-
phoning No. l precinct. Is
Morgan, they found, was sprawIed
unconscious upon q basement grating
set IN the floor of the alley lust under
the window. He had first struck
parked automobile belonging to Arthur
a: Nasahai Of $500 Fourteenth street
Inc impact caved in the hood and
lender down on the tire.
morgan was removed to Emergency
Hospital In No. precinct patrol He
ala not regain consciousness.
The Janitor insisted that HorRan was
alone IN the building at the time he
plunged from the window.
The window. which had a wide sill
SET near the floor, was closed when he
last saw 1t, williams said. It was in
. vacant ONCE, the door to which was
unlocked: Horgan apparently had
walked down the steps from the fifth
floor, going into the vacant ONCE
In the absence Of witnesses no,;ce
supposed that Horgan had flung IN the
window for a breath of fresh air. tnnS
ping over the sill as he did SO. Horoan
Is survived by his father and rnothsr
Mr.. and Mrs. William Horgan, sr. His
family was notified as soon as his
Identity could be determined.