Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-15
INQUEST HELD.
Coroner and Jury Examine Employees Regard
ing keIleite's Accident.

posed of the following named gentlemen:
F. j. c. Little, G. A. Robertson, DR..
Il. }. Martia, George Plllsbury, and Jo-
seph Wall, visited Saturday, the home of
the late Elmer Kellette, who was jammed
between the car and engine at Yarmouth
junction, Friday afternoon, and from the
result of which accident he died.
They went to his home to view the re-
and partial inquest was held, after which
the jury adjourned till Monday at 10 o'clock
to meet before Judge Andrews and further
investigate matters in reference to the aoci-
dent.
AT 10 o'clock the examination of the
hands on the train on which Kellette was
employed began. Attorney Staples ap-
peared in behalf of the Maine Central Rail-
road. The first witness was Engineer Car
roll of Brunswick, who had charge of the
kellette when he was injured, but
heard him call "Ho" and then say that he
was hurt. He was unable to see him from
his position in the engine and said he got
his measures of distance from the fireman
and he from the switchman. He regarded
Kellette's position very dangerous one.
The coupling used was a Western design
known as the Jenney automatic COUP
ling and should it slip the brake
man would be obliged to be quick
to get out of the way or he would probably
suffer injury. The engineer says that en-
CINE was moving very slowly and that KEEL
lette had tried to couple once before, but
failed and this was the second trial. The en-
CINE was being run backwards, the cow
catcher toward the car, which was New
York railroad car. The pilot link was very
heavy and all the support Kellette had was
what he might receive from holding to the
link, and then the other hand would have
to hold the pilot pin.
The second witness was Conductor Caus-
land of Brunswick who related the circum-
stances similar to the engineer. He was
not near the spot where the accident &C.
Cured, land could not say how it took place,
but believed it was purely accidental. He
regarded it as hazardous position for
Kellette and man acting in that capacity
took his life in bis own hands. He said
Kellette was careful man and
the engine was moving very slow.
ly. When Kellette was discovered
he was few feet from the car and engine.
He was Immediately taken into the station,
cot bed was furnished and a physician
sent for and everything made ready to send
him to Augusta.
man. He did not see Kellette when the
accident happened. He was giving the dis
lance to the engineer and receiving it from
the switchman, who was about 25 feet
from the engine. He said all the crew
were good friends and that all were work
ing with care and not making any haste to
get through.
This train was freight No. 81 and drawn
by one of the three-wheeled engines, No.
IA. The custom is to do any shifting nee
essary at Yarmouth Jnction running the
engine backwards. The most difficult
coupling to make is that of an engine to a
car, and these automatic couplings are
especially dangerous.
Two brakemen were on the train, front
and back one. The one in charge Of the
front of the train, is of more experience
than the other, and has charge of the shift
ing and making up of the train. Kellette
held this position. The jury enquired con:
siderably into the details, but none of the
witnesses saw the accident and could not
therefore give any definite account of just
the position he was in when it happened.
1t was thought from the fact that his right
side, from the knee to the ribs, was badly
bruised, that he probably slipped and the
cowcatcher running under the train brought
him against the car. Another theory was
that the pilot pin, which was quite heavy,
might have been thrown against him and
caused him to keel in such position as to
come between the engine and car and be
damned on the right side.
The jury decided that it would be neces-
sary to have the switchman present and the
inquest was adjourned till Tuesday, May
18th, at 10 O'Clock.