The times., 1897-08-22

Coroner Carr yesterday commenced an
examination into the DeaneEV0od grade
crossing hoTror Icy holding an inquest at
Undertaken Speare's over the bodies OF
Judge Heroine o. Claughton, The well
known lawyer. and Miss villa custis
da aagnter OF Dr. G. W. n. CrStis. the two
victims u the catastrophe OF Friday even
ing. already fully reported in yesterdays
Times. The inquest was not concluded
yesterdar although all OF the main Wit
nesses were examined 1t was thOught,
advisable, however 10y Assistant District
Attorney Taggart, who represented the
District. to withhold final action lntil
more compleue investigation can he made.
one O'clock Monday afternoon Is the 1our
set fUr the continuation of the inquest.
The inquest commenced at IL O'Clock,
when Coroner Can swore in the following <
hx men as the jury: william Gil, E. {.
Bernhelm, Washington TOpham, George
T. Berry. Will am Brodt and Samuel
Briaker- The Claugllton family WAS rep
resented b. Attorney Franklin H. Macliey.
an old friend, and the Gusts family was
represented by Attorney John Ridout.
Tie lury's first act WAS 10 view the
BODY Of Judge Clsughtol, which had been
embaliard al Speare's underuaH king ss-
tsbiishulent. after which they adjourned
temporarily TO Lees establis hment, OH
The Avenue, where the body of Miss
Gusts Was viewed.
The first witness called was Dr. Sterling
Ruffin, the physician who examined the
two bodies. His testimony did not 20 into
details as to The actual injuries received.
though he mentioned the most important.
Death, he said, was undoubtedly the re-
suit of the s-.Vere shociin 10th cases. Each
Of the two victims, however, had susta med
injuries mat III themselves would have
proven fatal.
john A Cockley. OF Baltimore the
engineer OF the express train, testified thar
his engine was going at the rate Of forty
miles an hour when il struck the ca7riage
in which the TWO people were seated. The
fireman was ringing tile bell, and he him
s6lf had blown the whistle a short dis
tance from The crossing, at the usual
whistle post lie did not see the buggy
until he was ciDse upon it, and it was
then too late 10 either blow the whistle
again, ur hope TO stop the engine. II
was just getting dusk, witness said, and
though the lights were lit, he could easily
distinguish the carriage. The time, be
said, was 7O2-
The view OF the tracks from the road
was impeded by the station. Furthermore.
the road crosses at an angle, and Judge
Claughton could not have seen the train
without turning almost entirely around in
the ca-riace seat After passing the sta
tions and getting TO point where the view
OF the up track is unohstructed, witness
said, tie carriage would be but few feet
from the tracks, and if the horses were
going fast. il would be impossible 10 avert
a collision The gates were open at the
time
Alfred 7. Scott, the conductor, testified
as TO the stopping OF the train. He did not
see the accident, but the principal part of
his Testimony related to the tower.
what is the rule about working the
gates9'' he was asked.
1.-The t0werman has positive instructions
TO have those gates down whenever atrain
passes Bis instructions are that, no mat
ter bow Important "a message may come
over the wires, he should attend 20 the
gates first The gates should be closed on
the instant the train coilies in sight. Some
times two men are employed at stations
Of this szind-one % look after the gates
and one iife wires.
The most important witness OF the day,
and the one who was subjected TO the
closest crosse examination, was the tower
operator, Levi T. Baker. He viii be twenty
years old on November ! next, he stated
10 the jury Ee has been employed on the
road ab0ut q year, but has been stationed
at DeanewOOd only about two months.
BE is, however, an extremely Cool young
man, and throughout his long exanina
ton yesterday ne did not once wa1eF OF
seem confused
81 sent to the tower on duty at 6:5C
O'Clock. I was supposed to be on duty
from at night Until z in the morning
! got the relsOrt OF No. Ga (the express
train at 7 .0l O'Clock, which told me that
1t had entered my block. AT the same
moment train No 327, south bound, was
Eignaled from Landoyer, but the time was
not given ] called them for the time
aud Just then i heard the roar of train
No. % Coming on the north bound track
spTang to the lever TO put down the
gates, and just then saw that the bugs
had driven onto the track. 1t was on the
track before i could even start 20 pul
done The gste- Had ] done Sc then, /