Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-20

(One OF tit NlCblNlS.l
cdent. he heard the signals distinctly.
The crossing. he asserted, could not be
seen but short distance ahead, coming
toward Richmond owing to the existence
of the cut at that point. The conductor
stated that he did not regard the crossing
a dangerous one.
Baggage Master J. ID. Tyler and Brake
maa jesse c. Ross were sworn, and de-
posed. but there was no new evidence in
their testimony.
The jury, efter considering all the
testimony. returned the following verdict:
Irene b. Sanderin came to her death
on the 18th day of February, 1895, from
injuries inflicted by Train No. 2. OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio, on the 18th day OF
February, 1896, and from the evidence
before them the jury are Of opinion that
no blame should be attached TO the per-
sons in charge of the train"
THE COUNTY INQUEST.
The county authorities held their In
quest in the basement OF the Henrico-
county courthouse. 1t was conducted by
Dr. Leftwitch, the Coroner, assisted
by monwealth's-Attorney Sands.
Willie Godsey, a white resident or
Chestnut Hill, was the first witness
called. He said that he was on the
hill when the $40 train passed. He heard
1t blow three times In quick succession.
He did not hear the whistle blow prior to
that time, although he testified that
he was close enough to have heard II
had It blown. Mr.. Godsey further said
that he did not see the accident but saw
the effects of it. The wagon was terribly
broken up.
Mr. w. G. Newman, of Hanover
county, a passenger on the train. told
of the stopping OF the train suddenly
after passing the crossing. and OF see
ing the bodies of the women lying upon
the embankment. Drs. Winston and
Williams who were passengers on the
train, examined the ladies. They were
of the opinion that one OF them was
dead, and that the other could not pos
siby live.
COULDN'T SEE A TRAIN FAR OFF.
The testimony OF this witness was
followed by that OF J. F. Jameson, an
attache OF the laundry. jameson said
he was at the place Of business when
the accident occurred. He did not see
the casualty or know anything of the
passing OF the train until after the wo-
men had been killed. He did not
suppose that one standing upon the road
could see train coming TO Richmond
distance OF fifty yards from the cross
ing. The remainder Of his testimony was
immateral.
Arthur Jones. the colored driver for
the laundry, testified that he was there
when the train colided with the wagon,
but did not see II. He heard the
whistle blow three times, but did not
hear the crossing signal. He heard the
noise of the engine coming in contact
with the conveyance. and ran out only
to see the shattered wagon and dying
women.
the laundry. testified that he spent Tues
day night there. as usual. He arose
about G:30, and was In the boiler-room
about $40 o'clock, when he heard the
train. He saw the engineer pull the
whistle three times before reaching the
crossing. Witness then ran around the
corner of the house, but just before
reaching the corner he heard the loco
motive strike something When he got
TO the corner he saw something fall
ing. Smith thought the train had killed
a COW. Arthur Jones. who was stand
ing In the door, ran up the road with
the witness. who was told by one OF
the trainmen TO see about the horse.
which he did The train blew three
times, the witness asserted within
about forty feet of the crossing. He
did not hear the whistle prior to that
time. and did not think II blew for the
crossing.
STATEMENTS OF TRAINMEN.
Mr.. John ID. Tyler. baggage-mast ster on
the train which ran over the ladies', stated
positiyeIy that the road crossing was
blown he thought at the proper whistle
post. Immediately after this the alarm
whistle was blown. the brakes were an
piled, and the train stopped at once. The
witness did not count the number of
blasts of the alarm-whstle. The rear
mart of the train stopped within a car
length of where the bodies were living
The women were picked up and put in
the baggage-car. Both were then living.
He examined the women, and stated that
both lived until the train passed the
Seventeenth-street shops. but died before
tbe cars reached the Broad-street depot,
which was about five minutes later. The
conveyance was struck at Sl2. Both OF
the ladies were unconscious after being
put on the train.
Mr. ]. c. Ross, OF Gordonsvilie. a brake
man ON the train, was summoned TO the
chair. He testified that he did not see
ANYTHING until after the accident He
heard distinctly the whistle bbw for the
road crossing. He supposed this was
three or four hundred yards from the
crossing Mr. Ross said that he then felt
the Air go on. which was the application
~ sbe emergency brake. and heard the
ala ru- whistle He then put on his brake
When the cars had stopped he saw the
two ladies' one about twenty or thirty
. fsst east OF the crossing. and the other
Down the bark. The hind wheels ard
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