The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-21
Ran His Train Into the One Ahead and
-Four Passengers Were Killed.
OISREGARDED THE DANGER SIGNAL.
His Defence Was That The Brake Did Not Work
Properly Taken 10 House Of Correction al
Dsdham After Sentences Was Passed.

Dedham. Mass, Dee. 2l.--As primarily
responsible for the death Of Franklin
w. Waters. in the railroad accident at
sharon last August, where four persons
were killed and many others injured,
Daniel w, Getchell, the engineer of the
second engine, convicted of manslaugh-
ter was sentenced by Judge Sherman
in the Superior Court yesterday after
noon to two years at hard labor in the
Dedham House OF Correction.
Getchell was the engineer OF second
section OF a train on the New York,
New Haven and Hartford Railroad
which, at half-past o'clock on the
night of August Il, ran into the first
section of the train which was making
a regular stop at Sharon station.
IL was shown at the hearing before
the Railroad Commissioners at the pre-
liminary hearing in the District Court
and finally, i'm the trial before jury,
that Getchell disregarded and ran past
a danger signal which was set behind
the first section and at all three of
the different hearings, Getcheiis re-
sponsibillty for the accident was shown
10 the satisfaction of the jury.
Before the sentence yesterday after
noon. his counsel, Judge Thomas Il.
Grover Of Canton, made short plea
for mercy on the ground that there
was nothing malicious in his conduct.
Contrary to his usual custom, Judge
sherman made "a few remarks before
passing the sentence, In the course OF
which he said:
'Tt defendant has been in the em-
ploy OF railroads for many years as
brakeman, fireman and engineer. lie
admits that he understood the rules OF
the road and his duty as such engl-
neer lie knew that he was To run the
train OF five cars from Mansfield To
Boston following the first section OF the
train with the same number of cars,
and that it was his duty not to run
into the train ahead. that ne started
from Mansfield four minutes behind.
knowing that the first section might
have to make two stops (neither OF
which he made). before reaching Sha-
ron, an intermediate station; that when
he reached the banjo signal about one
mile outside. OF sharon. he saw that
the red signal. indicating danger, and
that under the rules of the road IA copy
of which he had in his poe. ket IL was
his duty To bring the train To "A full
stop and then proceed at a rate of
speed not exceeding six miles an hour,
with his engine under control, 40 as
not TO come into collision with the
train ahead. Instead Of obeying the
rules. he passed the danger signal at
the rate of 30 or more miles an hour.
until he came around the curve near
the sharon station. and I'm view of the
signals of the train in front. at which
time ne did all he could to stop. APP
plving the emergency brake, reversing
his engine and then jumping off the
train. but II was too late, and his en-
gine crashed into the train.
"He had n friend riding with him
on the engine i'm violation OF the rules
of the road.
what IA his excuse or defence? He
saws that his brake did not work very
wen. and that he could not stop at the
banjo signal. without az that time APP
plying his emergency brake or revers-
ing his engine. neither of which he
thought himself required TO do.
Locomotive engineers generally are
entitled TO the respect and confidence
OF the public.
"They have the lives of great num-
ber of passengers I'm their care. They
are generally careful, faithful and
brave, sometimes being compelled "a
act upon the instant. and acting coolly
and with the best judgment Their own
lives are constantly in danger.
"A Jury always hesitates 10 conNlcl
one Of their number except when com
pelled TO do So where they have been
guilty Of gross carelessness.
.The jury were here instructed not
not to- find the defendant guilty If they
believed his evidence, nor unless they
found him guilty OF gross negligence.
"The Importance OF a conviction
and sentence where the facts and law
require ~. Is more valuable for its
effect and warning to others in like
cases not 10 offend than upon the de-
fendant. The sentence may do him nc
good. not make him n better citizen
but IL will have tendency To warn
other engineers not to be guilty of
criminal negligence"
At the conclusion OF Judge Sherman
remarks. clerk Cook pronounced the
sentence and Cetchell was removed e.
the House of Correction, only a short