Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-01

OTHER TESTIMONY aIvES-THE CONDUCTOR
AND ESGISTTR OF TIE FrErGHr TRAIN ForSp
TO HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF GROSS cAREI Esssyss.
special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
WARING STATION. May /, 1891.
The only body that has not been recovered
rom the wreck is that of Engineer Elliott Of
ne express train, which was known train
20 l. His son was at the Gene of the disaster
'arly In the day yesterday and remained there
II day IN a vain endeaEor to find the body OF
ms father. 1t Was stated that soon after the
fatal collision Engineer Elliott's body was seen
almost directly beneath his engine, 50 that if
here is any thing OF it yet remaining it Is
,robably in the ditch which was beside the
rack. The track was thrown over this ditch,
which was filed with oats from one of the
burned cars. and if his body is there the trains
pre- now passing over the spot where it hes
The workmen made little or no effort yester-
lay TO recover the body. but spent the day
oading the broken cars on the gondolas. and
{ will probably not be until tomorrow that
they will open the trench and look for the
body.
Mr.. Elliott. jr.. procured the whistle lever
from his fathers engine. which was no doubt
the last part of the machinery that was
operated by the deceased. and he took II 70 his
home in Baltimore last night
THE CORONER AND HIS JURY.
The time set for the inquest yesterday was
noon. but at that hour there were only few of
the iurymen at the station. When Magistrate
Musser. the coroner, arrived. he learned that
kthe telegraph operators had not arrived from
Washington Junction. and he determined to
wait FOR them. In the meantime the jurors
a-rived and loitered about the station for nearly
two hours. and finally. after considerable trou-
bile a sufficient number responded to hear the
Testimony and decide the case Magistrate
Husser is eighty-three years old and weighs
IprObablv 80 or 800 pounds. He had law
book under his arm. and he stated in advance
that he would make as thorough an investiga-
tiOn as he could and would meet every
Hquirement of the law.
He took his scat under an apple tree on a log
land as many OF the jurors and railroad men
the pieces Of timber would accommodate were
fortunate to get seats. A large majority OF. them
had to remain standing ard keep moving as
the suns rays reached around the tree
Three watches were found III the debris yes
terday, and two of them indicated the hour of
4011z, the exact minute the accident occurred.
SCRAPS OF CHARRED LETTERS.
postal clerk spent the day there yesterday
and recovered number of burned locks, some
KEYS and other articles which were of no value
Many turned letters were scattered about and
although they were burned 10 a crisp some
pieces were found which could be read almost
a easily as though they had never been in the
flames. One letter found was addressed to "A
W. Cottrell, secretary. auditors Office"
Baltimore and Ohio Detectives Writ and
Hutchinson were both at the wreck Tuesday.
They were on the express and had IL not been
for them Postal Clerk Burdette's body would
have been cremated and Postal Clerk Peacock
would undoubtedly have persisted in the flames.
In saving the latter able assistance was rem
dered by a cOlored porter. Clerk Peacock was
Gagged in the wreck. as IT were, and il was only
by tearing away some Of the broken material
that the men were able TO pull him from the
wreck before the flames reached him.
Although badly injured himself Peacock did
not forget his companion and the first thing
he said was, Go save Burdette. but the latter
was dead and his body had been carried to the
frame tool house.
CONDUCTOR PErTICoRDs TESTIMONY.
When the coroner began the investigation
Conductor George s. Petticord of the express
was the first witness sworn He said that the
accident happened about 40 and that his
train was about one minute late. He had no
orders against the freight train. but had orders
to meet No nj Dickerson's. Both the express
and the freight were running on schedule
time
That train said the conductor, meaning
the freight had no right there.
Witness explained the rules of the company.
which required the freight train to clear the
track ten minutes before the time for the pas
senger tram 10 rCacn a gwen point
Witness was acquainted with both Croft and
Elliott and was OH the road with the latter more
than twenty wears ago.
As he closed his testimony the conductor re-
marked. Il could give better evidence than
that" whereupon the coroner called him back
and instructed him that he had been sworn to
tell all he knew of the affair.
Then the conductor made further explana-
ton Of the rules Of the company and added:
1T was gross negligence on the part Of the
crew Of the freight.
Daniel Hildebrant the baggage master gave
evidence of his having teen thrown across the
on his back by the coming together Of the
trains
THE scESE FOLLOWING THE COLLISION.
Detectives Hutchinson and Writ then de-
scribed the scene that followed the collision
and told Of what done to relieve the
wounded.
Detective Writ said that he as, "a Henry
Croft. the freight engineer. wny he did not
jump. and he replied: Il ditnt have time.
He also assisted in gett''s Miller out of the
wreck
James Moore. thu xatchman at the station,
was IN the hollo the pump house when the
accident hs pened. He heard the express
whistle on the other side of the bridge. He
did not know that the freight WIS near there.
James Williams. operator at Washington
Junction, testified to orders he gave to Con
duetor Amey and Engineer Croft of the freight,
but none of them were against the express
The coroner was under the impression that
the conductor had full charge, but in answer to
an inquiry one of the officials Of the road said
that both conductor and engineer are charged
with the same responsibility. This witness also
explained the rules of the company
". Ii. Harrison, agent and operator at Wash
ington junction. gave similar evidence.
BRAKEMAN sHAws Evidence.
FL Shaw, brakeman of the freight, testified
that he was in the rear OF the train and he
knew they were behind time, but he did not
know whether the conductor and engineer had
received orders against the express or not
The train. he said. ought to have pulled
In at Germantown. They passed Germantown
at about o'clock. He heard the express whis-
tie blow down the track for Choppers. and after
that he heard two whistles near the bridge.
This man in the OF the train when
he heard the whistle. remarked Mr.. Post who
was representing the company. and the engi-
neer and fireman should have heard the whistle
also. as they were much nearer the express
than the brakeman.
Brakeman Welsh also gave evidence. He
said that when the train reached Germantown
he was holding down the brakes for the siding
but the engineer whi-tled up brakes and the
conductor threw out his hand to move on
ENGINEER eRoFFs AFFIDAvrIs
NJ Post then rrO1ucaA A. l.