Evening star., 1895-06-13
R A T E OF SP E e Q
Engineers Run Trains Too Fast Through
the City.
Cases of b. and o. Men In the Police
Court Today-TwO
Fines Imposed.

Prosecuting Attorney Pugh presented to
Judge Kimball today three charges against
engineers on the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road for running their trains at rate of
speed faster than twelve miles an hour
Considerable interest was manifested In
the case, both by the railroad company and
citizens.
While the police officers filed the charges
members of the Northeast Washington Citi.
zens' Association We're in court to lend theiI
| assistance to the prosecution. President
Tucker of the association and Chairman
Holster and w. ]. Frizzell of the railroad
committee were in court, while Superin-
tendent Alvey and several other employees
OF the railroad company were also present.
They had models and photographs of the
road over which it is charged the fast run
ming was done. The train was watched
white it passed over the quarter-Inile
stretch east of the 9Th street crossing.
Messrs. Hamilton and Colbert represented
the engineers, and made lengthy arguments
in the case, in addition 10 examining the
witnesses and attacking TIE law in the
case.
A Stop Watch.
Lieut.. Heffrer and Officers Pearson, En-
erson and Wheeler gave evidence concern
ing the time it took for the train to pass
over this stretch. Their evidence was that
the train passed over the quarter mile in
forty-six seconds. or at the rate of about
twenty miles an hour.
! Under the ruling of the court the fast
| time has to be shown to have been made
| On streets or avenues, and part of this
| stretch Of track is on private property.
| This being the case :he prosecution claim
| ed that the fast running across the cross
| ings was in violation of law. On this
| question the defense claimed that the
| brake is always applied at street cross
| ings, and consequently the train did not go
| as fast over the crossings as it did between
| them.
The fact that the railroad tracks are
about eight feet above the grade at 9th
street was brought out, and witnesses said
| that although this is the case, many school
children cross the tracks there to reach
| the school which is south Of the tracks.
Further Evidence.
Chairman Holster of the railroad COM
| mit:ee and Mr.. Frizzell also gave evidence
| They were present when the trains were
| timed.
President Tucker was not put on the
stand as witness.
Mr.. Pugh in his argument, claimed that
| the case had been made out beyond any
| doubt, and said he had certainly shown
| that the train had run faster than allowed
by law while crossing 7th street
One Fine.
Judge Kimball spoke of the testimony
and said he could not find that the train
went slower while crossing 7th street than
it did while passing over the other part of
the quarter-mile stretch.
Richard Nalley was defendant In this
particular case, and fine of SO was i'm
posed.
Counsel gave notice of motion for a new
trial.
The Second Case.
The next case called was that of VIM.
Walsky and the proof was that his train
covered the quarter-mile stretch at the
rate of about sixteen miles an hour.
The defendant said he believed ne did
not run his train faster than ten or twelve
miles an hour in tie city for two years.
"At the H street crossing said witness,
i've often been abused for slow running,
and l reported the fact to Mr.. Alvey, and
ne told me to lick the next one who does
it, and I'm going to do it,
Are you going to let your train go ahead
while you do it?" the court asked.
NO, sir" he answered. Il am going to
turn il over 10 my fireman"
Judge KimbaIl held the engineer guilty,
ard the case of Charles Mantz was on trial
when this report closed.