National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-11
The SMrcH-TENpER.
John Nolan surrendsrs Himself

John Nolan 6urFendeRs Himself 70
the Authorities.
John Nolan, the SWiteh-tender ct Benning's at
the time OF the unfortunate accident Thursday
night on 1.-THE Baltimore and Potomac railroad,
and for whom the coroner issued warrant sFter
the rendition Of the verdict in the case Of Thos
FsymAn, gave himself up to Lieutenant Kelley,
at the Seventh precinct station, yesterday AFTER
noon In an interview with representative Of
TIE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, he gave his Eide
Of the story TO the eause Of the collision which
differs widely from any Of the evidence sdduced
duty st the station in the employ ofShs company
on New Years Day. At that lime he received
Re tsRspS Spsrssos Snd :aos pssp.
superintendent Of that division Of the road, and
the conductors Of the different trains hAltipg At
he obeysd the orders explicitly, and never more
faithfully than the night Of the accident.
and Who Sere eiotbed Sth SutbosItS to nsTs N
rections, were on the ground. The freight train
came down at the usual time in charge Of new
previous while he had been in the employ Of the
company, The order was given 10 open the
switch and allow 1t TO pass on the aiding, which
then went into the station and he remained out
side, thinking that their conversation neither in
terested or concerned him, and that his presence
was not desired. After waiting sOme. time, and
the freight train tarrying longer than he thought
It generally did he stepped 70 the door and asked
ii IL was Un1e TO open bWlLcn, TO NulCn ne re-
ceived the reply, Eyes, open IT," He did not notice
particularly which man spoke, for knowing that
either had the right to give the Instructions he
proceeded to do as bid, and opened the switch as
he supposed for the freight TO come out and pro-
coed to Washington. He was unaware that the
the Northern express was due, and paid little at
tention to the running Of the trains, as he got his
orders direct in all cases, and did nolcharge his
mind with matters that properly belonged to the
other employees Of the road.
After changing the switch he was walking
away, and had gone Q short distance when he
heard the out going express approaching. He
hastened back TO resdiust the switch, but could
not reach It in time to avert the collision After
that took place he remained about I'VE minutes,
and then, becoming excited over the result Of
marks made by passengers and others that he
stood in danger Of bodily HARM he thought safety
would be the best secured In flight. He immedi-
ately walked bash to this city, and on reaching
home related the circumstance to his wife. Still
thinking his life in danger, and concluding that
he would be hunted for at his house that night,
he went to the residence Of q friend residing in
Philadelphia row, on Eleventh street southeast,
and here he remained. Rejecting on the matter,
and while regrettinE the accident and its sad re-
suits, still satisfied in his own mind that he was
not to blame for the causes that led to It, he de-
cided to give himself up to the authorities and
He now regrets that he did not come forward on
the morning following the collision and appear
before the coroner's inquest, as BY so doing much
Of the feeling that now exists against him could
have been mollihed, If not completely explained
away.
He will be committed to jail to-day to await
the action Of the grand jury.