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

-OTEEh TESTIMONY GlNEN-THE CONDUCTOR
AND ENGINEER oF TIE FREIGHT TRAIN FOUND
TO HAVE BEEN GUILTY oF GROSS cARELEssSE ss.
Special Corrsspondence of The Evening Star
WAXING STATION. May l, 1891.
The only body that has not been recovered
from the wreck is that of Engineer Elliott Of
the express train, which was known as train
No. /. His son was at the scene Of the disaster
early in the day yesterday and remained there
ell day in a vain endeavor to find the body of
his father. 1t was stated that soon after the
fatal collision Engineer Elliotts body seen
almost directly beneath his engine, that II
there 10 anything Of it yet remaining it is
probably in the ditch which was beside the
track. 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
are now passing the spot where it lies
The workmen made little OF no effort yester-
day to recover the body. but spent the day
loading the broken cars on the gondolas. and
1t will probably not be until tomorrow that
they will open the trench and look for the
body.
Mr.. Elliott, r., 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 TO 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 we're only few Of
the jurymen ut the station When Magistrate
Nusser the coroner. arrived, he learned that
the telegraph operators had not arrived from
Washington Junction, and he determined to
wait for them In the meantime the jurors
arrived and lOitered about the station for nearly
two hours, and finally, after considerable trou-
ble a sufficient number responded to hear the
testimony and decide the case. Magistrate
Musser Ia eighty-three years old and weighs
probably go or 800 pounds He had law
book under his arm and he stated in advance
that he would make thorough an investiga-
ton he could and would meet every re-
quirement of the law.
He tcck his seat under apple tree on a log
and as many Of the jurors and railroad men as
the pieces Of timber would accommodate were
fortunate TO get seats. A large majority Of them
had to remain standing and keep moving as
the suns rays reached around the tree.
Three watches were found in the debris yes
:erday. and two of them indicated the hour of
40715, the exact minute the accident occurred.
SCRAPS OF CHARRED LETTERS
postal clerk spent the day there yesterday
and recovered number of burned locks, come
keys and other articles which were of no value.
Many burned letters we're scattered about and
although they were burned TO a crisp some
pieces were found which could be read almost
easily as though they had never been IN the
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 1t 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 hitter able assistance was rem
dered by colored porter. Clerk Peacock was
Gagged in the wreck. as IT were, and 1t 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 PETTICoRDs 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. at DickersOns. 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 train to reach a given point.
Witness was acquainted with both Croft and
Elliott and was on the road with the latter more
than twenty years 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 be knew of the affair.
Then the conductor made further e1plana-
tion Of the rnles 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
car on his back by the coming together of the
trains
TIE scESE. FOLLOWING The COLLISION.
Detectives Hutchinson and Writ then de-
scribed the scene that followed the collision
and told Of what was done to relieve the
wounded
Detective Writ said that he asked Henry
Croft, the freight engineer. why he did not
jump. and he replied: Il didn't have time"
He also assisted in getting Miller out of the
wreck.
James Moore. the Waterman at the station.
was in the hollow at the pump house when the
accident happened He heard the express
whistle on the other side of the bridge. He
did not know that the freight near there.
James Williams, operator at Washington
Junction, testified to orders he gave to Con-
dnctor Amey and Engineer Croft of the freight,
but none OF them we're against the express
The coroner under the impression that
the conductor had 1tlll cnargc, Dut 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.
W H. Harrison, agent and operator at Wash
tngton junction, gave similar evidence.
BRAKEMAN sHAw's EVIDENCE.
p. L. 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, fought TO have pulled
in at Germantown" They passed Germsntown
at about 4 O'Clock. He heard the express whis-
lie blow down the track for Choppers. and after
that he heard two whistles near the bridge.
This man in the rear of the train when
he heard the whistle" remarked Mr.. Post who
was representing the company. land 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 Germs ntown
he WAS holding down the brakes for the siding
but the engineer whistled up brakes" and the
conductor threw cut his hand to move on
ENGINEER eRoFF's AFYIDAvTTs-