The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-01
THE CORONER'S REPORT
HIS FINDING IN THE TROLLEY
 ACCIDENT.

motormnn LinuAtrom-Says AheS Were crIminaIIy Negligent and Care Iess-Rec concentrations Made to the Trolley Company.
 The report of Coroner Mix on the troll ley inquest was filed yesterday morn ing and is an interesting document.
 He finds from the evidence that Mo torman Joseph Smith and Conductor William w. Peterkin, of car 145. which left the switch before it should have done on the night of the accident, were to blame for the accident, though the signal system of the Fair Haven ana Westville road is criticised as being crude. He says that the crew of car 145 were criminally negligent and care less and responsible for the accident which caused the death of Motorman Lindstrom and the injuries to about twenty passengers
 The report in full is as follows:
 'Sture Lindstrom, motorman on the Fair Haven and Westville railroad, was an old and valued employe. Sat urday evening, July 26 he was on duty on VSSLlDuI6O car lAI DGlOLSlL4S IO eeNAN company, He left Branford about o'clock to run to New Haven Just after passing Johnson's quarry, and at curve in the track which is located near that point, his car collided with car No. 145 and a wreck ensued. Lind strom was crushed between the two cars and many of the passengere were injured. He was with difficulty remov- ed from the wreck and taken to the New Haven hospital, where he died about 12:05 a. m., July 27, from injuries received in the collision.
 Near the place where this accident occurred is long switch known as gravel-pit switch, at which it was GUS tomary for cars going in opposite di- rections to pass each other. At 7:1S p. n, July 26, there was on this switch car No. 145, Joseph Smith, motorman, and William W. Peterkin, conductor, waiting for the regular Branford car to pass.
 "They saw two cars pass, whereupon, evidently thinking one to be the regu- lar car, they proceeded off the switch on their run toward Branford. While they were on the switch the conductor and rnotorman conferred together as to whether the regular car had passed them, and the motorman was admonish- ed by the conductor to go slowly.
 These two cars which Smith and Peterkin passed were not regular cars. but what are known as extra or special ~ cars, and behind them was the regular car, which was vestibuled car 127. The motorman of the first special car was Martin Marlin, who, his being the first car. gave no signals to Motorman Smith as he passed. The motornan of the second car J. L. Overlander. gave a signal with his hand as he passed, indicating to Motorman Smith that an- other car was behind him and that he should be on the lookout for such a car. This signal given by Motorman Overlander was seen given by Conduc- tor Tyrell as Motorman Overlander made it, but Motorman Smith, of car 145, says he did not see 1t, and as Con- ductor Peterkin was inside his car he could not.
 AS car 145, Joseph Smith, motorman, and William w. Peterkin, conductor, left the gravel-pit switch they proceed ed at a fair speed toward their destina- ton, and when at the curve in the track just west of Johnson's quarry their car collided with regular vestibuled car l21, which was running at a good rate Of speed, as its motorman, Lindstrom, ex- pected. and had the right to expect, that car 145 was waiting upon the gravel-pit switch for him.
 "The curve at this point indicated is upon a single track, quite sharp, and an enbankment of earth upon it's north side to which the track conforms linn it's the view of the track to a consider able extent
 s'It is testified to by the motormen and conductors of the said Fair Haven and Westville Railroad company that while no designated system of signals as to where or what cars are to be pass ed is in vogue, a system has been es- tablished between them, that the mo- torman of the car preceding the last car that is to be passed shall signal with his hand to the motorman of the car waiting or passing that another car is to come.
 q find that Motorman Overlander did signal Motorman Smith as their cars were passing, with his hand, and either Motorman Smith neglected or did not see it, or, seeing it, did not understand it.
 "It is testified to by two witnesses that Motorman Smith was, in theil opinion, under the influence of intoxi- eating drink, and that his condition was the subject of remarks just previous tC the collision.
 "As the regular car on this line is or dinarily a vestibuled car I believe Mo- torman Smith and Conductor Peterkir should not have proceeded off the gray el-pit switch until they had seen or ob tained information of the whereabouts of this regular vestibuled car whfcf they were expecting to pass, especially as they both had been over this line be- fore and knew of the existence of tht curve which was ahead of them anc which was alluded to above.
 T find their conduct was careless negligent and reckless. Both of these men had been on duty about four hour: on the day of the accident Smith, tht motorman. having passed examination and being in the employ of the compa ny about four months, Peterkin abou three weeks.
 ''I find that Lindstroms death wa: caused by the carelessness of Josepl Smith and William W. Peterkin, ant