New-York tribune., 1902-10-16
THE ACCIDENT TO PRESIDENT.
SPECIAL JUSTICE FINDS NEGLIGENCE ON
PART OF MoToRMAN AND CONDUCTOR.

SPECIAL JUSTICE FINDS NEGLIGENCE ON
PART OF MoToRMAN AND CONDUCTOR.
Pittsfeld. Mass. oct 15-The finding in the
inquest following the accident in which Presi-
dent ROosevelts bodyguard. William Craig, was
killed here last September. filed to-day, says
that the unlawful acts of James T. Kelley, con-
ductor, and Euclid Madden motorman,' Of the
electric car which ran into the Presidents car
riage contributed" TO the death of Mr.. Craig.
The finding was by Charles L. Hibbard.
special justice.
The report is an exhaustive review Of the
circumstances attending the collision between
the car and the carriage in which President
Roosevelt. Governor Crane and George B. Cor
telyou, secretary to the President. were riding
which resulted in the instant death OF Mr..
Craig and serious injuries TO the President and
Mr.. Cortelyou II contains about three thou
sand words. The inquest began September 8
and was concluded September IS. The
accident occurred in South-st. Septem-
Der g. Justice Hibbard finds that the
horses attached 20 the Presidents carriage
were going at the rate of six miles hour.
and the car at from fifteen 10 twenty-five miles
an hour He also finds that there mis-
understanding on the part of the streetcar
companies OF the city TO what thOrOughfareS
were TO be closed TO traffic during the Presi-
dents visit. No evidence. the report says. was
found TO show that the was not running at
regular schedule or that the officials of the road
had given any orders for It to be run otherwise
than under normal conditions. The report
adds:
"As neither the conductor nor the motorman
testified at the inquest. the special justice
unable to find what IL any, influence the wishes
Of the passengers that the car be run faster
than IL ordinarily did had upon their conduct.
The evidence Of the majority Of the people
standing by the side of the road that it
was running much faster than usual. but pas
sengers on the car thought il was not as the
cars always run fast at the point where the
accident occurred The motorman rang the
gong continually until the collision.
The justice was unable to find whether or
not the power was on when the struck the
carriage. When the car was one hundred and
fifty feet behind the carriage. Governor Crane
arose and mOtioned TO stop. Two of the mounted
guards did the same thing at the time
AS the Governor motioned the driver turned
the horses on the track. The speed Of the car
slackened in a slight degree as the brakes were
applied.
There is no evidence that the current
reversed. The car was brought TO a standstiII
fOrty-hve feet beyond the point of collision.
II was geared TO speed of fourteen and three
quarter miles an hour on a level with full
load"
Craig's body was found eight or ten feet in
the rear Of the car when it came to a stop.
Pratt. the driver, lay Unconscious fifteen feet
from the car. Craig never knew what hap
pened
In conclusion the special justice finds that the
was allowed TO attain dangerous speed,
the fender not properly locked in position.
but that IL IL had been ii would not I'm ali
probability have prevented the death OF Craig
and that the unlawful act OF the notorman
Madden. and the conductor. Kelley, contributed
TO the death of Craig.
Kelley and Madden were arrested on the dav
of the accident on the charge Of manslaugbter
and they are now under bail for trial on No.
yembeF J.