The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-30


begins; the contest between laXity and
law. between good management and
bad. between street railway patrons
and street railway directors-the Lei
.eester street railway fight, which viii
go down into the history Of Worcester
county and the state as the most nota-
bic on record.
IT is the peoples fight and The Spy's
fight, not against persons. but against
principles, and its finish viii witness a
revolution in street railway manage
ment throughout the state.
Never have street railway operators
in any portion Of the state become 50
thoroughly frightened over the possi-
bniues Of any legal action as they have
over those arising from that terrible
accident al the foot of Leicester hill.
Never has corporation SO thoroughly
realized its weakness as does the Wor-
cester ana Suburban with the murmur-
ings OF an angry popuiace sounding in
their ears. Justice herself never mad
more propitious opportunity 10 up
mold the fair rspute Of her name than
that which presents itself this morning
'''-LSAN tic AaA-AAtDiAEQ BlQQESS W lL4 Inc
upllrpeo scales and unsheatheo sword
From north. from south. from east
ana west from every nook ana corner
| OF the old Bay state. eyes are strained
toward Worcester. Ears are awaiting
those words which shall fix the blame
and establish the penalty upon the tax
ers of those innocent lives down in Lei
cester valley and those responsible for
the spilling OF that human blood over
the frozen ruts of that lonely country
road.
The investigation. the real investiga-
ton, no star chamber street railway
session. but the peoples investiga ton
me Spys igation-begins this
morning at o'clock, and the indica-
tons ar. stronger than ever that be-
fore the fight is finished, an Indictment
viii be granted against the officials of
the Worcester and Suburban
Plans for the trial We're perfected
yesterday Both the trial and the in
guest Will take piece before Judge Ut
ley Usually the trial and Inquest are
held on different dates but Judge Tt
icy desired IN this case TO have them
held on the same day. 1t has not vet
been announced whether the trial or
the inquest will take place first, but in
aSnuch as 1t is usually the form 10
nave the Trial held first, it Is probable
thai this method will be carried out
Since It became known that the trial
ana inquest would be held on the ssmei
day, there has bSsn some confusion of
The time in the popular mind Thev
are, however, as distinct as if held Of
days. In the trial the only
parties represented are the common.
wealth VS. Calvin and Hiney. the charge
against the defendants being man |
3 laughter alleged TO exist in the killing !
Of John .kerrigan and Walter Hol-
r4fa1 IS
simply 70 legally determine the cause |
Of the death OF these parties, and has
no connection with the trial
Inc relations between the town of |
Leicester and the state authorities be- |
hind the investigation Of the accident |
are by no means as united as the pub 1
nc might be led TO suppose. Indeed /
there is a possibility that the town Of (
Leicester may not be called into the I
action at all by the authorities
The question of whom shall be heard I
at the inquest is q. matter resting en-
tirely in the hands Of Judge Utley. ana !
at present il is very probab le that he |
Will not call upon the town authorities |
or their legal representatives The
selectmen have felt for several DAYS
that the town would not be called up
on TO take any part in the trial which /
opens today, and have been busy max
ing other plans.
Chairman Smith went to Boston yes
terday. and while in that city took pre-
urinary steps toward the continuance
OF the towns investiga tions REGARDLESS
Of the actions of the local courts.
Upon his return, Chairman Smith l
was seen by The spy man last eve
ming. When asked concerning his trim 4
he declined 70 state ti:s exact nature
of his errand 10 Boston. but admitted +
that IL vas in connection with the in
vestigation Of the disaster. He stated I
that he had not seen Chief Wade. and
declined TO say whom he had seen.
When asked concerning the uossibil- +
ity that Leicester may not be called /
upon by the local cour.s. Nh Smith 1
admitted that there is such q posi- /
bility, but" said ne we do not in
tend to abandon cur investigation. If |
we can't get satisfaction here Wen go
elsewhere. but we can't do anything
until after the inquest. The facts in |
the case remain unchanged; two per
sons were killed while riding peaceably
in the town of Leicester and we pro-
pose TO search out and establish the
guilt
When asked if the town would resort
to civil action. Mr.. Smith replied in /
the negative. and added that the
towns part in the affair would come
later.
From this il is evident that the town
action against Tie street
railway corporation after the inquest
is finished and the cases for man
slaughter disposed Of This means
more trouble for the street railway and
viii drag the fight 3ut much longer
than any one had looked for
Chairman Smith stared that he is in
daily receipt Of NUMBERS OF letters
from residents Of Leicester. Spencer
and Worcester. and also from former
employees Of the Worcester ana sub