Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-08-11
HATTROLLEY HORROR
Some Sensational Evidence Given to
the Coroner's Jury.
WHAT GEORGE HALVES SAW.
Produces Photographs He Took at
Scene of Disaster Which Contra
dict Statements Regarding
Approaches of the Bridge.

Bridgeport, Conn.,, Aug. 1.-THE In
quest into the cause of the trolley acct
dent on the Shelton street railway last
Sunday being made by Coroner Doten
and jury here continues. The most
sensational testimony which developed
during the session was offered by Mr..
George e. Halves, superintendent of the
Birdseye, Somers & Co. corset factory.
Mr.. Halves was the first witness called
to the stand before noon. He testified
that Monday morning he visited the
scene of the accident. He arrived there
at 8 o'clock and remained nearly an
hour. At that time large number of
men were engaged in filing in with dirt
the ties bearing the rails on the eastern
approach at the south end Of the bridge.
The men were divided into two gangs,
one Of which worked about ten feet from
the south end Of the bridge and the other
$50 feet farther on. During the hour
which he remained on the scene, said Mr..
Halves, two carloads Of earth were
brought up dumped and tamped beneath
and around the ties.
Witness produced photographs which
he had made as the work progressed and
which he offered to the jury as evidence.
He said that the photographs were taken
merely out Of curiosity Since they were
made, however, he had seen articles in
the newspapers to the effect that little
or nothing in the way of repairs on the
approach had been done between the
time the accident occurred and when the
approach was viewed by the coroner's
jury.
He then decided, in order that the jury
might have all the real facts in the case,
to appear before the members, tell what
he knew of the conditions and offer the
photographs in corroboration Of his testi-
mony.
An Experts Evidence.
G. b. Underwood of New Haven, an
expert electrician, who, at the request of
Coroner Doten had examined the con-
tact box on the front end Of the wrecked
car, next was called. Mr.. Underwood
testified that he found the door of the
contact box partly opened. The condi-
ton Of the box indicated that it had
been opened with screw driver or
similar implement, as the bolts all were
unbroken and in place, which hardly
would be the case had the fall from the
bridge broken the box, thus causing 1t to
open.
An examination of the interior of the
box disclosed the fact that two or three
of the contact fingers were missing, rem
dering the reverse lever useless. In ev-
cry other way the box was In good con-
dition. The power was turned complete
ly off, but there was no evidence that
the power had been reversed.
Mr.. Underwood also examined the rail
on the bridge at the point which the car
had been pushed over just previous to
topping off into the pond bed. He said
that if the power had not been turned
fully off at that time an electric arc
would have been formed between the
motor and the rail- Evidence of this arc
would have remained Oh che rail haG. it
existed, in the form of a black stain.
The stain not being found, he was GER
tain that the power had been fully turn
ed off before that point was reached.
Adjournment was made at this point.