The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-04-06
VERDICT REACHED
At Mondays Session of
Coroner's Inquest.
A WELL-BALANCED ONE.
1t Divides the Responsibility
Between the Railroad and
the Driver.
A WELL-RALANCED ONE.

pursuant TO Adjournment, the cor
sner's inquest to investigate the acct
dent which resulted in the death o.
Miss Anna VOTERS, and the serious
injury to Mr.. and Mrs. Herman Lem
mers, reconvened in this city on Mon
day, at the city hall, the assembly
room being filled with interested spec
tators.
Coroner Pinault, Deputy Coroner
Dunn, County Attorney Sullivan and
Stenographer G. B. Hillman of st.
Paul, were on hand, as was also Cy
Wellington of st. Paul, an attorney
for the Great Northern road. Mr..
Sullivan examined the score of wit
nesses called, and Mr.. Wellington
followed him on a sort of cross-exam-
nation.
There seemed to be somewhat of a
misrepresentation as to the nature of an
inquest, and the county attorney has
been adversely criticised for the
searching manner in which he ques-
toned some of the witnesses. All that
an inquest is designed to do is to get
at the exact and unbiased facts which
tend to throw light upon the cause of
death, and the personal responsibility,
if any exist, for such death It is not
in any sense an ex parte proceeding,
and the county is not supposed to have
any theory to advance or substantiate.
If any criminality shall developrela-
tive to the cause of death then the
county attorney is charged with en-
tirely different proceedings. His ap-
peal then is to the grand jury. So
much by way of explanation.
THOMAS KAvANAUGH
was the first witness called. He testi-
fed in substance: Was engineer on
train No. ! which, on the 9th OF
March, struck the wagon on the Main
st. crossing, which caused the death of
Miss Wolters; was two minutes late:
know the line and crossings; James
Mullaney is my fireman, and J. F..
Woolnough was conductor of train;
whistled for station as usual just as
we came out of cut and struck straight
track-about quarter of mile from
crossing; am positive fireman was
ringing bell according to rule and
custom; was on side of engine oppo-
site that from which the team APP
preached and could not possibly see
it, as boiler INTERVIEWED; fireman was
on left side, and just before we got to
crossing he threw up his hand and
yelled; I reached for whistle, threw
over the lever to reverse engine, and
pulled emergency air brakes; was rum
ming ten or twelve miles an hour; it
was light train-only three coaches
all told; can stop in 200 or 300 feet
usually; there was hay or straw on
track, causing drivers to slip; could
feel them slip; the wagon box was
caught by pilot, and dragged along
till train stopped; knew crossing was
in the city, and understood there was
a six or eight mile ordinance in force.
Examined by Wellington
Always whistle as we come out of
cut-about half mile from station;
fireman rang bell from the time I
whistled till we struck the train; did
not set emergency brakes till we struck
the team, He reiterated much of his
direct examination.
JAMES MULLANEY
was next sworn. Was fireman on No. that
day; team was about rod from track when
l first saw it; thought it was runaway; team
was running fast, with one horse in the lead
a half length; they were then very close to
crossing, and the next instant we struck the
team; train was running ten or twelve miles
an hour-not exceeding twelve; l rung the
bell before reaching the crossing, as usual.
On examination by Wellington he repeated
the story substantially as told by the en-
gineer, and said engine was stopped about SOC
or 400 feet from the crossing
testified: Was called to care for the injured
who had been taken to the house OF Thos
Hoffman; examined the body of deceased
found the neck broken. which caused death
examined Herman Lemmers and his wife
Lemmers had confusion on back of head, and
larcerated wound in occipital region, and a
bruise over the kidney; Mrs. Lemmers had
dislocated shoulder and rib torn loose; both
are sitting up; do not think it prudent to
have them here; think both will recover; the
two children involved iu the accident were
not injured; know nothing of the accident.
G. W. sUCKsToRFF
testified: Saw the accident from the windows
of my house. which is on south side of track
300 or 400 feet from crossing, facing east; no
ticed team pass, going very fast; as I looked
from east window saw team moving toward
track, and it was just in line with approach
ing train; was fearful of accident, and went
to north window; in going FELL and just as
got to north window saw engine strike the
team; all the people were in one seat; could
see train approaching quarter of a mile down
the track; nothing to obstruct the view; did
MT notice the children; don't know whether
whistle or bell sounded; didn't notice; team
must have been going fast to reach the eros
sing when the train did don't know speed of
train; no connection with railroad, nor any
interest in any one connected with the acct
dent; hurried to place where train stopped
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