The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-26
THE WOLLASTON DIsASTER.
Conductor Hnrtwe ell Adjudged Guilty OF Man.
slaughter and Held In $4,000.

BOsToN, oct. 25.--Judgc Bumpus of Quincy
made public to-day. his verdict in the case of
Charles ii. Hartwell. the conductor who is ac-
cusod OF causing the accident at Wollg ston on
the Old Colony Railroad. on the evening OF the
sth inst Hartwel is ndjudged guilty Of man
slaughter, and held in SO 900 for trial in Decem.
ber. Engineer Hulburt Of the freight train. Is
adIudged guilty Of gross negligence in occupy
ing the inward track without giving proper
signal. The verdict adds that Engineer West
gate Of the forward locomotive of the eNourston
train, was not suitable person to have charge
Of train under the circumstances rs he lacked
that complete familiarity with tho track and
switches of tho road which regular engineer
should have. Judge Bumpus says.
The train hands were Conductor inrtwc snd the rcar
hIncSr pc eni % ana n1,"n M Ihe I0nt
the cnnductor enrler IN the day. ami the conductor
was running his uain shortisndcd on In. trp Aisf
m VAIN Tsn, 's ron TsI9 sn wai S 3 rnsSa e e
,s,t II ',sns S ie outward raek ga,sgd on
he len Of he inward track warI Boston to dnd where
s ,. emb IN. ia. ear, anI b BOZ sar loaded WIN sand
stop his train on the rouh and take these Hats to
rcctcd 6s brakeman to change lie ilrSe switches vii
come tns he oniwsfd track w. The siding fhese
shifted and the engineer after uncouplng from his
between the outward and inward tracks a distance Of
ia9 ieot then up the inward track toward boston,
hnss we're made at once the brakeman then stationed
conductor upon the rear iat car go lcct from
locomotive ami the locomotive and cars, at slow rate
OF speed. lett tho siding.
As tile locomotive rounded the slight turn that il makes
as IT enersupOn the inward track the the
head hight OF loconouye on the inward track coming
toward him. at WOlAston station lie put on all
cam aud the locomotive aud were AZ speed OF
vr TO ten miles hour BY the way Of their inward and
connecting tracks a. and then down the outward
ard Woason station Tor distance Of nve to hun.
drcd feet when the two trains mot on the opposite
40 signal had been forward upon the Inward track
e. warn approaching trains The conductor had totally
neglected TO have this done either by himself his
man and the engineer. well knowing that such signal
had been given occupied the inner tract IN the
reached by the connecting track switch in safety, al
though II was set wrong
gross negligence, IN lhis mat he run hi. train short
handed without the knowledge of the managers Of the
road lie allowed his unn TO- stand upon the outward
track un,ignnlledi he directed anI caused the ii.sht
engine 10 occupy the inward track. and caused the
Switches to he changed and remain unlocked witOut
leaving the inward track perfectly ana safely slRualled
second Engineer Ilulburt guilty of negligence in
occupying the inward track without such signal hcng
gwen in VoAtun OF the rIcs and order, ~ the road
Thrd-rhat while Mr.. WcsgHte IL q competent aud
liable engineer he Was not u suitable person To have
charge Of such train uni"r such circumstances The
safety and protection OF the ps-en-ers required rot only
complete knowledge nl hisdutlesas engineer bu also
such familiarity with that portion of the road hy daily
aud caution IN appr.aching and passing swit'hea Hnd
other LOCALITIES o. the road where liability to langcr
might exist aud such familiarity. In my opinion, hr
Wcstgatc did not possess
tourtl-Ii the rules o the road had been followed by
but tunsderns the TACT that this excursion tram
and travelling IN the nisl ,ime. aud known " he two
hour. late u should have aided 20 the prccanion taken
graphed that the freight train would take the Hats nj
Woaston or hartwell notified before leaving Boston
that hcse aims would he at the place Of
accident at nearly the same time, the accident might
have been AverWd,