Alexandria, Virginia

Trolley Accident

May 12, 1907

BOY RUN DOWN BY CAR 

With Both Legs Badly Crushed He Is Expected to Die. 

TRAINMEN ARE UNDER ARREST 

Toddling Across Street in Front of His Home in Alexandria, William Creegan, Five Years Old, Is Probably Fatally Injured by Mount Vernon Electric Car.  Motorman and Conductor Under Bond. 

Washington Post Bureau,

621 King Street, Alexandria, Va 

William Creegan, the five-year-old son on Michael Creegan, of 217 South Royal street, was run over by a north-bound car on the Mount Vernon division of the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway, near the intersection of Royal and Duke streets, almost in front of his parents’ home, about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon.  Both the child’s legs were so terribly mangled that his death is said to be merely a question of a few hours.

John S. Barker, the motorman of the car, and Richard Acton, the conductor, were arrested by Policeman Knight and Garvay about two hours after the accident, and were arraigned before Police Justice Caton, who held them under $1,000 real estate bond each for a further hearing to-morrow morning at 9 o’clock.

The Creegan child had been at the Young Men’s Sociality Lyceum Hall, a short distance from the scene with his father and had started home alone.  As the child started to toddle across the street, the car approached from the south and the little fellow was knocked down and ground beneath the wheels before the motorman could check his speed. 

Hurried to Hospital. 

Policeman Garvey and Joseph Nowland, who were near by and witnessed the accident, picked the child up and hurried with him to the Alexandria Hospital, where in a short while Drs. William M. Smith, E. A. Gorman, Arthur Snowden, and S. B. Moore held a consultation.  It was decided that a successful operation would be impossible.

When the conductor and motorman were arraigned before Police Justice Caton, Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent conducted the examination.  Policeman Garvey testified that he tried to signal to the motorman when he saw the child run into the street, but that it was too late.  He also testified that there were two men in the motor cab with the motorman, that the car was running at a rate of speed that he believed was unlawful, and that the fender was at the rear end of the car instead of the front.

Motorman Barker said that he was running at a rate not exceeding ten miles an hour but that it would have been impossible for him to stop his car in time to save the child if he had been running only three miles an hour, as was compelled to depend upon a hand brake instead of compressed air.  He said as soon as he saw the child he reversed the controller and commenced to apply the brake, at the same time shouting to the little fellow to stop. 

Fender on Wrong End. 

The conductor said that he was standing to the left of the motorman, and that a man, who had just come into the motor cab, was at his right.  Both the conductor and motorman admitted that they had arrived at Mount Vernon late and in their hurry to catch up with the schedule time had forgotten to change the fender from one end of the car to the other.

It was explained that the car, No. 6, has a motor at each end, and that the fender is supposed to be changed from one end to the other at each terminus.  Mr. Brent contended that both the motorman and the conductor should be held responsible, and a charge of malicious wounding and injuring the child was entered opposite their names.

Barker and Acton have been running on the Mount Vernon line a comparatively short while.  They both board in Alexandria.  When the case is called in the Police Court to-morrow morning Justice Luther H. Thompson will preside.  Police Justice Caton’s father, James R. Caton, being one of the attorneys for the electric railway company.

About 10 o’clock last night Martin P. Greene became bondsman for Barker and Acton and they were released, pending the hearing to-morrow. 

The Washington Post, Washington, D. C. 13 May 1907

TRAIN CREW PLEAD TO-DAY

Railway Men Held for Maiming Boy to Face Police Justice.

William Creegan, Five years Old, Victim of Alexandria Car, Not Likely to Survive.

WASHINGTON POST BUREAU.

621 King Street, Alexandria, Va.

John S. Barker, the motorman, and Richard Acton, the conductor of the electric car which ran over the maimed William Creegan, the five-year-old son of Michael Creegan, Sunday afternoon, will be taken before Justice Luther H. Thompson, in the Police Court, at 9 o’clock this morning.

Commonwealth’s Attorney S. G. Brent will appear for the State, and it is understood that attorneys for the electric railway company will be present to look after the company’s interests, though it was said last night the company wound not defend the employes. [sic]

The Creegan child recovered from the shock sufficiently yesterday to submit to an operation, and both legs were amputated.  His condition, however, is critical, and it is not believed he will recover.

The Washington Post, Washington, D. C. 14 May 1907 

Richard Acton, the conductor who was in charge of the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway car that ran over and fatally injured William Creegan, the six-year-old son or Michael Creegan, Sunday afternoon , and who was arrested shortly after the occurrence, yesterday succeeded in giving $1,000 bond for his appearance in Police Court next Tuesday, J. Wesley Kidwell, of Alexandria County, becoming his surety.  John S. Barker, the motorman of the car, who also was arrested, gave bond in the amount Tuesday afternoon.

The funeral of the Creegan child will take place from St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10 o’clock this morning. 

The Washington Post, Washington, D. C. 16 May 1907

TRAINMEN HELD BLAMELESS

Coroner’s Jury Finds Child’s Death Not Due to Negligence.

Verdict Declares Car Equipment Was Defective and Crew Ignorant of Duties.

Washington Post Bureau.

621 King Street, Alexandria, Va. 

The jury summoned by Coroner S. B. Moore to investigate the death of William Creegan, the six-year-old son of Michael Creegan, whose legs were crushed off by a trolley car last Sunday afternoon, last night returned the following verdict:

“We, the jury, find that the said WILLIAM CREEGAN came to his death as the result of injuries received from being run over by a car of the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway Company.  We find the conductor and motorman blameless in this case, but learn from the evidence that they were not supplied with the proper appliances in the way of brake equipment.

“They also showed great ignorance concerning the law governing speed and the individual responsibility of the several crew hands.  They are sorely in need of instructions.”

The jury was composed of Robert M. Graham, D. Harry Appich, R. E. Knight, John H. Trimyer, Courtney Acton and Edgar Warfield, jr., with the first named as foreman.  Leo P. Harlow was present in the interests of the father of the child.  John S. Barker, the motorman of the car, was represented by State Senator Lewis H. Machen, and Richard A. Acton, the conductor, had as counsel Walter U. Varney.  J. Randall Caton, jr., one of the counsel for the electric railway company, was present, but took no part in the proceedings.

The motorman and conductor described the accident and testified that while the car was only equipped with a hand brake that lacked lever power, they did not believe that the car could have been stopped in time to save the child if it had been equipped with air brakes.  Neither seemed certain as to whose duty it was to see that the fender was on the front end of the car, and on several points concerning the operation of several points concerning the operation of trains said they had never been instructed.  During the investigation Barker said:

“I had rather have been under those car wheels myself than to have seen that child there.”

Dr. William M. Smith described the child’s injuries, and Raymond Smith testified that he believed the motorman did everything in his power to prevent the accident. 

The Washington Post, Washington, D. C., 18 May 1907

Articles transcribed by Jenni Lanham.  Thank you, Jenni!

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