The Evening critic., 1885-04-10
THAT ny" HORROR.
Testimony About Last Summers Col
lision.


lision.
Tho case Of manslaughtor against John
Sullivan, tho 1agman on the "Y" track OF
the B. & o. Railroad, was resumed in tho
Criminal Court this morning. The accused
is a middle.aged man of nervous tempera.
ment, and the charge against him is caus-
ing the death Of Conductor Michael j. Ri.
ley by giving the wrong signal and causing
the collision of trains on the b. & o. Rail
road July 10 last The Government claimed
that they would show such gross careless
ness on the part of the accused that it
would take the place Of intent.
James p, Smith, an employe of tho road
said the train coming from Baltimore was
due at S;26 p. m. The Martinsburg train
was due at S:07, but was twenty minutes
late. The Baltimore train was going about
twenty miles per hour. The signal tower
that directs the trains on the Washington
Bianch and the Metropolitan Branch is
situated at Delaware avenue and Second
str CT. There was n ilagman between Sui
Ivan, who was stationed at the "Y' on
First street, and the tower. As Sullivan
could not see the tower from his station, he
had TO get his signal from the fagman.
Joseph Nally, yard conductor at the b.
& o. yard, stated that he is employed in
shifting cars in the yard He was In the
ntighborhood of the "Y' at the time of the
accident. The danger signal was given to
the incoming Baltimore train until the
time she was due. Then the safety signil
was given her, which gave her the right TO
run on the ny" At this time tho train
from Martinsburg, on the Metropolitan
Branch, was twenty minutes late. The
danger sgnal-red light-was shown from
the signal tower to tho Martinsburg train.
The train from Baltimore got nearly around
the "Y," when it collided with the Mar
tinsburg train. The witness said that he
could not tell why the Martinsburg train
como in If the danger signal was shown by
Sullivan. The Government claimed that
the safety lights were given the train by
the nagman.
On cross.examination tho witness stated
that the manner of manipulating trains on
tho "Y" had been changed since the &C
cident.
John f Legge, tho general agent of the
road, testified that Sullivan had four differ
ent stations at which he tagged atdiherent
times.
Callahan Kane, hagman at First and
II streets, said that on the night of the &C.
cident he was stationed at Delaware avenue
and First street. He was the first signal
man from the tower on the track on which
the Martinsburg train came in. He got
the red-danger signal from the tower. He
then showed the red light to the next man,
at First and ] streets, where the accident
occurred. lie did not know whether or not
Sullivan was at this point.
The witness was furnished with a signal
lamp and put through drill to demon
strate TO the court and jury the manner of
giving signals. He said that the man at
Sullivan's post was expected to leave his
box about 80 feet so that he could sec the
tower, and then return and send the signal
up the other line.
Patrick Mcdonald said that he saw Kane
show the danger signal to the west five
minutes before the accident. The plat
showed that Sullivan, who was to take the
signal from the witness, was to the north
west of Kane.
Henry 3ensel was employed to keep the
K.street crossing clear and attend the "Y''
switch. Witness got the safety signal from
First and ! streets Is minutes before the
MartiDsburg train came in. lie passed the
safety signal out tho road. He could not
say that it was Mr.. Sullivan that gave him
the light. He said this train came in so
slowly that a person could have jumped
on or off.
VIM. Fl. Iealey was standing near the
point Of the collision. He saw Mr.. Sui
Ivan standing outside of the Matchbox.
| Mr.. Sullivan sent him down to see what
| light was shown In the tower.
Flagman Kane was recalled by the de-
| tense, and stated that he had seen EngineeI
| Riley, who was killed, run on tho "Y'
| when he was given the red danger signal
This occurred few days before the &C.
| cident.
Michael Monohan stated that he was
| standing talking with Sullivan and wit
| ness could not see any signals. Sullivan
sent young Healey to see what light tina,
id fool as he stated it, meaning Kane
was showing.
VIM. Babbington was excluded as wit
| ness because he had been convicted of per.
| jury.
General Superintendent Legge stated tina,
some of the flagmen had book of rules
| and some did not The trains were sup.
| posed to not exceed six miles an hour
| When two trains were approaching the train
| that whistled first had the right of way
Sullivan's salary was $50 per month. He
said no had heard of engiDemen passing red
signals, although it was against the rules
Siuce this accident large signal tower ha;
been built on the "Y,' which overloodi
both lines. After proving that tho deceases
engineer was held over a broken boiler mead
and was compelled TO make steam, the Gov
eminent closed its case.
c. +. S. France, residing on | street be-
tween Delaware avenue aud Second street
testified for the defendant lie sale
that the red light in the towe
was made by putting a piece o
red flannel in front of the light
This flannel was so filthy that it was dill
cult for person to tell whether the light
was meant for a red one or an ord mary one