The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-09

| than to have him subpoenaed. The
| lawyer said he thought he could have
| Hamilton present this morning.
| An official from the Berlin Iron Bridge
company will be on hand this morn
ing.
THE CHIEF WITNESS.
The chief witness yesterday afternoon
was John d. Cruite, aged twenty three,
of Derby, who was on the Inflated car,
but saved his life by jumping before the
car left the trestle. His story was the
most interesting of any of the witnesses
and he was questioned at length by the
jurors. He stated that he came to
Bridgeport from Shelton in the morning
and on the way down the ear ran so
fast across the trestle that it made him
afraid When he started to return he
had in mind his fright when crossing be-
fore and felt more or less nervous. He
sat on the second seat from the front
platform, occupying an end seat on the
left had side and he could see the mo-
torman very clearly from where he sat.
The car made the usual stop at the top
of the grade and when 1t started 1t came
down at a rapid rate. The witness was
very positive that the motorman did not
turn off the power, nor apply the brakes
TO check the speed. AS the car was go
ing down the grade 1t wobbled consider
ably and when it struck the bridge the
car shot into the air and landed back
off the track When the car went off
the track the witness stated that he got
out by climbing over the guard rail that
extended along the side of the car. He
then started to jump, but not until the
motorman had gone over the dash board
ahead. BY that time the car was near
ly at right angles with the rails and the
front end extended over the edge of the
trestle. AS he went off the footboard
of the car struck his foot and knocked
him flat on the bridge. otherwise he
thought the impetus would have taken
him over the trestle on the ether side.
Before he could get onto his feet he
heard just one cry or horror and then
the crash. Continuing, the witness said
that he was badly bruised, but when he
found that no bones were broken he
went down the abutment to the wreck
ed car. He first lifted out a young
lady with her leg hanging off, and then
a child, but he was unable to render fur
Their assistance on account of the horri-
Bile scene that was presented. He saw
that most of the people were beyond |
need of assistance and then he went |
back to the bridge to where the motor |
man was. He was sitting up but dazed |
He asked If any persons We're hurt, and |
when Informed that they all were killed |
probably he exclaimed, ooh, my God!'
During his examination by the Jurors
Cruite testified that the motorman had |
been cranky and irritable on the trip
BEFORE the car left Bridgeport he had |,
an alteration with the starter and
again when they got over near the east
end and the conductor stopped the car
1t his house for a moment Hamilton
plainly indicated that he did not like the
dea of being delayed, and while passing
n the vicinity of Avon Park Cruite said
he car was going at q rate which seem
ID to him to be the fastest he ever rode
n a trolley. He was positive that the
notorman had no difficulty in stopping
Ind starting his car as he did so sever
Il times to take up and let off passen-
,ers. The witness was very nervous
while testifying, and stated that he had
lad but four hours sleep since the acct
lent, and had not eaten anything. He
vas unable to state about how fast the