The evening times., 1897-08-23

Claughton and Miss villa Custis, the tw /,
victims of last Fridays accident at the
grade crossing at Deanwood, was resumed
this afternoon at speare's undertaking es-
tabliShnent on + street.
All OF the witnesses who testified Sat
urday as TO the inability OF one man To
perform all the duties, TO which Levi
Bal:er, the tower operator at Deanwood,
vas assigned, were present, and a number
o. the employees of the Pennsylvania Rail
road We're also there.
At the time the inquest adjourned on
Saturday these witnesses only had been ex-
am;ned, and NO one had given testimony
on behalf Of The Pennsylvania Railroad.
The general impression given out tfen was
that officials OF the railroad would be
called to testify as to the practice of the
company in relation TO grade Crossings OF
this kind
The inquest was begun Saturday morn
ing by coroner Carr, but at ? O'Clock Sat
urlay it was adjourned until 1 O'Clock
this afternoon, at the request OF Assistant
District Attorney Taggart, who stated
that h cdesred To have a more coInplete in.
Yestigation made.
No officials OF the road, however We're
called to testify. The crew of train 81
TESTIFIED in behalf Of the road and the
coroner did not believe anythin new could
be brought out by summoning any OF the
road officials.
Mr Evan H. Tucker, president of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa
tion, was present this afternoon TO rep
resent that orga niZation, which has been
fighting grade crossings for years MIR.
Tucker, preceding the inquest, stated TO a
Times reporter that he considered the Off
cials of the road criininally responsible
for the unfortunate accident, inasn,uch
ar they refused sufficient protection at
the crossing
When the inquest was resumed, a few
minutes after l O'Clock, Mr.. j. ). Fian-
tp,ry assistant solicitor of the rennsyl-
vania Railroad, appeared to represent
the ompaBy. Attorneys Mackey and Rid
ont were also on hand to represent the
Claughton aud Custis families, as IN last
Satmda-. Assistant District Attorney
Tag"aIt took aG important part in the
proceedings.
John Boiand, Of Bcnning. d mounted po-
lice gfficrr, was brought in as witness
by MIR Taggsrt. He described the location
os The houses and road on both sides of the
tracks. 1t would be impossible, he said.
To see train from tie road until one i'd
almost upon the tracks. A mill obstructs
the view.
Nj. TaggaTt also questioned wltu@ss as
To the obstructiuns at the crossing of the
Baltimute and Ohio road about sixty
PAGES from the Pennsylvanis tracks. and
brought oft the fact that a similar case
OF az ois,ruc.ed crossing exists on this
read also witness said that he had
often had trouble with the man lowering
the gates aud keeping them down obstruct-
ing tie road.
Attorney Flannery, for tie Penns vl-an.a
road, here asked what gentleman his was
1t was not Mr. Baker 1T was the man
before iiiIn. ] had To take him into court
kn the charge and he was fined S.
''0h, thea here i've kept them down too
long. did he9'' asked Attorney Flannery
yes, sir.r
How far can a man see down the
tracks if he stops ten feet from the cross
ing" asked Attorney Flannery.
About ninety feet. If he gets closer
he can see TO Benning."
Detective Edward HCn testified that he
had made careful investigation of the
accident ON Saturday morning.
Ibid you 20 into the tower?"
''Yes, sir "
what did the operator have To do?"
"He had TO take messages from north
and south put cut signals and lower the
gates which took both hands You have
TO get up 10 put the gates down, and
then 90 TO the other side Of the tower
TO signal the lin that his block was clear"
''Can you See the trains as You cross?''
mot until you get right or: the crossing
The building used as waiting room kee.,s
you froIn seeing anything until you get
right or the edge of the tracks,"
Mr.. Horn, officer Boland just stated
that YOU could see nearly to Benning if
you stood five feet from the rails. What
do you thiak of that" asked Attorney
FlanneTy.
"A man driving couldn't see down the
track until he was almost on the tracks
took observations at several distances from
tie raf, but could not see to Benning unit
4 was on the rails
Janes e Thirles of Benning. the regular
operator at peanwood. testified that he
Rad been employed for three years. Baker,
he said, was an extra, employed when he
Was of.
what are the regular duties?r
I'VE first get the train report, ani enter
that on record. Then we pull the signal |
when the trains come in sight We use
our judgment as to putting the gates down;
we have no orders from the company as TO |
the time when we drop the gates; it is |
left TO cur judgment We have 10 rise |
from the table 10 lower the gates They |
require hosh handsalw Us TO push the lever -
did You see the buggy when the acci- |
dent hdppened?''
II left about eight minutes TO seven and
passed ;hem over the nill out of sight of |
the station"
Can you attend TO your duties easily?''
No, sir: | have to be very careful. L |
have never applied to the company for az.
but I have thought two men |
ought TO be there
What is your habit about lowering these /
gates when you are on duty each evening |
when these two trains pass. DO you pull |
signals first, or lower the gates?'' asked /
Mr.. Flamery.
I'VE pull the signals first and then lower
tie gates.''
Can you lower the gates without letting
90 Of the signals?"
mo, sr.r
Are yoG supposed TO let go Of the sig
naIs?''
mo, sir; not according TO orders"
Then, il you have been lowering the /
gates after pulling the signals, YOU have
,oor, 1fis.,l,a l,rdnrS FOR rnn ranrxa,,