The evening times., 1896-04-11

made after many earnest requests by the
Northeast Citizens Associat ton, whose
attention had been called to the Necessity
for such a regulation by reason OF the I'M
usual danger at this point. owing to the
fact that there is "A sharp curve in the tracks
Just at the approach OF IL street, which Is
the busiest thoroughfare in the eastern pnr-
ton of the city and by the numerous serious
accidents which had occurred al this point,
including the one resulting in the instant
death OF Mr. william Brahler. Believing
that tthe heenforCemen tof this regulation would
prevent all such accidents at tins point.
a proper prosecution of all violations Of it
is Of great importance and interest to the
citizens.
THE CASE WAS TRIED.
The railroad company refused TO COM
Dly with the regulation. and Thomas Col
Inns. an engineer. was arrested and charged
with 4 violation thereof in failing to stop
his train as the Ia W requires. The case was
tried in the police court on May ~. 1885,
the District being represented by the as
s;stant attorney and the defendant by the
able attorneys for the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company.
Early in the progress of the trial the
attorney for the prosecution left the court
room tfor some reason unknown to me,
presumably to attend TO some duties which
VI SiNdlNi anu
was absent during the entire time that the
attorney for the defendant was arguing
points involved in the ease. thus leaving the
prosecution without any representation
whatever,
ION his return at the conclusion OF the
argument OF the attorney for the defend
ant, on being asked by the Judge if he had
anything to say. he replied that there
was nothing for him to say. or words TO
that effect and judgment was given ccord-
ingly, disin issing the case. Thus this regu
lation, the enforcement OF which might re-
suit in saving hundreds OF lives, was not
sustained. aud consequently no further
prosecutions are brought under it.
'Only a few days ago a cable car mar
rOwly escaped being crushed to pieces at
this point, the presence OF mind of the grip
man, who rau his car through the closed
gates. saving the lives OF the passengers.
As cable cars frequently carry Us mauySs
one hundred passengers you can readily
see how a wholesale slaughter at this point
is more than possibility.
Ceases numbered 2 involve u law OF
even greater importance to our people,
and should be enforced 10 the letter-the
law limiting the speed of trains .or loco
motives within the city.
"The fast running of trains or lOcomo-
tive of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company has been source OF constant
alarm and ammo vance 10 the citizens, and
has resulted in many serious accidents,
including the death of Teresa Mcdonald.
Many arrests have been made for viola
tions Of this law, but owing to nsufn-
cicut evidence from the police bringing
the cases, and other causes, few cases
have been prosecuted, and the lawlesS-
ness continues.
..In view of this fact the committee on
steam railways OF the Northeast Washing
ton Citizens Association offered its
services to the superintendent OF police
in bringing cases I'm der this law. This offer
was accepted, and three engineers, Rich
ard Nalley, Charles MantZ and William
Narkey were arrested and charged with
violations OF this law.
DEFENDANTS WERE CONVICTED.
These cases were tried in the police
court June 13, 1895, and the evidence
given by the police and the citizens being
conclusive all three of the defendants were
convicted and a fine of $40 imposed in
each case. A writ of certiorari was
granted, advancing the cases to the crimi-
nal court, where, on June 26, 1895, the
attorney for the defendants entered a
motion to quash, since which time, not
withstanding the fact that the cases have
been repeatedly called and the attorney
for the defendants was ready to proceed,
these important cases have been permitted
to stand In this unfinished condition for
over nine months. because the attorney
for the prosecution Is not ready.
'.As / am Informed that no further cases