Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-08
coRoNER's INQUEST.

AS stated in the last issue Of THE
ENQUIRER Coroner Louthian immedi-
ately after the wreck Of last Thursday,
empaneled a jury ef inquest with
view to fixing responsibility for the
death Of the five persons who were
killed. The jury was composed as fol-
lows:
7. N. Thomasson, foreman; J. c. Lii
ly, w. S. Gordon, John A. jenkins, c.
L. Burris, G. R. Wallace, ]. c Steele, J..
B. Dixon, Thos. McClain, ]. A. Shil-
inglaw, NJ. H. Jackson, s. L. Brown,
]. A. Clinton. ]. c. Robinson.
In all eight witnesses were sworn
and their testimony was developed by
questions from the various members Of
the jury. The following condensation
embodies all the material facts that
were adduced from the different wit
nesses:
w. A. Bolin, lives within a short dis
tance of the creek. He saw the train
as 1t went on the trestle. 1t appeared
to be going faster than usual. The
crash came after the engine had pass
ed over four or five benches. The ten
der and baggage car went down first
and the engine rolled backward into
the break. Witness had been acquaint-
ed with the dangerous condition OF the
trestle for long time and had called
the attention of the section master to
the fact He saw five dead bodies as a
result Of the wreck. 10:
w. S. Peters lives within three-quar-
ters of a mile of the trestle and had
begun to notice the rotten condition Of
the timbers as far back as a year ago.
He had noted repair work in progress
from time to time, but could not say
whether or not any repairs had been
made during the present year. He
saw the bodies of the men who were
killed, and knew that they lost their
lives in the wreck.
T. L. Sullivan saw the wreck imme-
diately after the occurrence, and no.
ticed the rotten condition Of the tim
bers.
Arthur Watson lives within quar-
ter of a mile of the trestle, and heard
the crash. Had often noticed the rot
ten condition Of the timbers.
Alf Starnes, colored, lives within
three hundred yards of the trestle and
saw the train go down. Tender and
baggage car went down first and en-
CINE rolled backward into the break.
Had frequently seen the trestle shake
as trains passed over, and considered
1t unsafe.
Milus Miller lives within a quarter
of a mile Of the trestle and saw the
train go down. He had known for q
long time that the timbers Of the tres
tie were rotten and when he called
the attention of the Section Master
Stukes to the fact Mr.. Stukes said he
had reported the Information to the
officials above.
Mr.. J. A. Maxwell, sworn, said he
was supervisor Of the track and had
nothing to do with bridges. Mr.. M. S.
billiard of Charleston, is the supervisor
of bridges.
NJ NJ Stukes, testified that he was
section master of the track on both
sides Of the trestle; but had nothing to
do with the trestle itself. Outsiders
had frequently called his attention to
the condition of the trestle; but he
considered it reasonably safe. How
ever, he had more than once called the
attention of engineers to its condition
so they would know to slow up as they
crossed it. The trestle had been stand
ing for about fifteen years. There were
some rotten ties across the top, but
these did not affect the strength Of the
structure, nor were they necessarily
dangerous except where there were
several together. He had never report
ed the trestle as being unsafe:
This was the verdict: 1.-THE said
Bob Burris, Richard Wagner, Fred
Rhyme, H. G. Brickman and mail agent
(name unknown) came to their deaths
in a train wreck on the Southern rail-
road, at the aforesaid trestle, which
trestle was in a dangerous and unsafe
condition, being due to gross careless
ness on the part of the officers Of the
said railroad"
On Saturday the coroner issued q
warrant for Mr.. M. S. billiard, charging
him with responsibility for the wreck.
The warrant was placed in the hands
of the sheriff for service.