The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-04
Motorman and Conductor Held
for Yesterdays Accident.
Appear in Court and Secure q
Continuance.
CABLE FROM KAISER.
German Emperor Congratulates
the President on His Luck.
Disposition to Make Driver
Share the Responsibility.

Pittsfield, Sept. 4.-Less interest than
was generally expected was shown in
the appearance before the district court
today of Motorman Euclid Madden and
Conductor James Kelly who had charge
of the car that struck the presidents
carriage yesterday. Not more than %
persons were present The case was not
even called and after conference be-
tween counsel for the street railway
men and the court it was agreed to
postpone the matter for two weeks.
Bail of ST, 600 for Madden and $500 for
Kelly was continued. Former State Rep
resentative Turtle, the legal adviser of
the Pittsfield Street Railway company,
appeared for the defendants. The pre-
siding judge was Justice Tucker, pres
ident of the Street Railway company.
1t is believed that two weeks hence an
other postponement will be granted and
that the preliminary action by the
grand jury. if the case should come be-
fore it, will take up SO much time that
actual trial will not be reached before
January
The funeral arrangements of VIM.
Craig, the presidents guard, who was
killed yesterday, have not yet been
MESSAGES FROM ABROAD.
Washington, Sept. 4.-Messages of
congratulation over the escape of the
president from his accident yesterday
have begun to come to the state depart
ment from abroad. One of the first was
the following from Emperor William OF
Germany.
..Posen, Sept 4-President. Washing
tom With all Americans, praise
Providence that saved your life from the
terrible accident. WILLIAM, I. r.
Minister WI called in person at the
state department early today to inquire
of Acting Secretary Adee whether any
ill consequences had followed yester-
days accident and also to extend his
congratulations to the president
Mr.. B. F. Barnes. assistant secretary
to the president, arrived in Washington
today. Mr.. Barnes was with the presi-
Dental party at Pittsfield yesterday, be-
| occupied by the president, Mr.. Cortel-
you and Governor Crane at the time OF
| the accident.
| Although Mr.. Barnes disclaims having
| any special knowledge as to all the
| circumstances of the accident not
| shared by many others, yet from what
| he saw and heard on the spot he thinks
| the responsibility for the accident lies
| between the driver of the presidents
carriage and the motorman. with the
| greater burden upon the latter. The
| trolley road at that point, Mr.. Barnes
| says, Is straight for some distance, and
| the motorman must have seen and rec
Ognized the presidents carriage with its
| four white horses some time before the
| crossing was reached. but instead of
| stopping or materially reducing his
| speed he came on at rate that made it
| impossible for him to stop when he saw
| that collision was imminent. The
| driver of the presidents carriage. on
| the other hand, could hardly have had a
| clear view of the track at the point of
crossing, as the OutriderS on either side
| must have INSTRUCTED it to some extent
| at least. Among the people who gath
| cred at the scene of the disaster it was
| suggested that the driver of the presi-
| dents carriage may have taken greater
| chances in crossing the track than he
! usually would have taken. He undoubt-
/ eddy felt his Importance as the driver of
| the presidents landau. and was reported
| to have refused $1,000 to allow another
| man to take his place for the day.
Mr.. Barnes left the presidential party
last night at Bridgeport, Conn, and will
| join it here again tomorrow evening at
/ 7:30 O'Clock for the trip to Chattanooga