Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-27
THE EAST BALDWIN AccrDevr


The following is some of the testimony oil,
cited at the inquest on the recent accident on
Inc Portland and Osdensburg, At East BALD.
win:
oohn Brown, who keeps a BOARDING
MUSE at East Baldwin, testified that he had
seen spencer using the switch some DAYS be-
icre the accident and that Spencer had charge
OF 1t as far as he knew.
Andrew Kicker, living at East Baldwin.
testined that Spencer was with him at hand
rehearsal at the school house on the niob, NJ
the accident. He saw Spencer come from hi.
work down the track at 500 O'Clock. Spencer
was accustomed to throw the switch omen m
run the handcar on the siding. The car was
100 heavy to be lifted off the track by one
man. - 0"e
Edward w. Spencer, who has since been
arrested for criminal carelessness in leaving
the switch unlocked. testified that he is 26
years oid- He has been employed by the
ogoenspnrg road three years He resigned
'he morning after the accident His work
was 10 go over the section in the morning
aneau OF the trains On the morning of the
accident he went down the road as usual on a
hand-car and spent the dav cutting bushes
he returned to East Baldwin at about
o'clock. He ran his hand car nm tn the
switch rails, stopped and got off. He then
unlocked the switch and threw it open He
ran the Car on the switch rails to the siding
he then threw the switch back and locked
IL. he locked the hand car also. He talked
win his father for few minutes and then
went back TO the switch and looked to see if
everything was all right with the switch. He
always looked to see if the switch was all
right whenever he went near it. After SUD
per be went to band rehearsal When the
accident occurred he ran to the scene and
then noticed that the switch was unlocked.
He was positive that he locked the switch
securely. Other section men have KEYS to
the switch He knew of a man who left the
road last fall with switch key in his posses
sion. This was Frank Goodwin, now at W ork
for Gen. Msttocks at East Baldwin The kew
was sent for this spring, but Goodwin said he
bad lost it in the woods
Ella M. Brede, the sister of Spencer, testi.
NED positively that she saw him lock the
switch.
Ambrose Spencer, the father. testified
positively that he saw his son lock the switch
and then look at it to see if it was all right.
b. F Emery, section hand on the road,
testified that he had always known Spencer
to be prompt and faithful. Frank
Goodwin had key which he said he lost
Three years ago Mr.. Emery found a rail
across the track near this place. Goodwin
WAS discharged for carelessness. The use
of the switch was contrary to hi. directions
to Spencer. He told him to throw the hand
car of the track and not use the switch He
never knew Spencer to leave a switch un.
locked, but he had known Goodwin to do
this.
Spencer admitted that Mr.. Emery told him
he had better not use the switch, but did not
understand that he was positively forbidden
to do so.
Spencer is now under arrest for man.
slaughter and will probably be tried at the
present term Of the Superior Court. He has
always borne a good character He is married
and has lived at East Baldwin for some
time.