Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-05-01
THE COUNTY COURT.
$500 Damages for the Estate
of E. H. Baldwin.
Mr. Baldwin, Engineer, Was Killed
in Railroad Wreck at Vernon and
Suit was Brought Against Central
Vermont Company.

X. G. Baldwin, administration vs.. Cen
tral Vermont Railway Company.-E. ii.
Baldwin, deceased, had been an engi-
uttr many years ON the passenger tram
on the narrow gauge railroad, and dur
ing the last two or three years of his
lite. in the winter season, had made the
run of the Boston train, SO called, from
BrattlebOro 10 Millers Falls and back.
December B. 1901, he made the run. leaV-
ing Millers Falls on the return trip =
minutes late. Vernon was regular stop
OF the tram and he also had orders that
day to meet Boston x Maine freight at
Vernon. This train was too long for
the siding and reached back to the main
line As Baldwin's train came in sight
of Vernon station about half a mile dis
tant he undertook to apply the air
brakes to make the stop. but got no re-
Spouse from the air. lie then whistled
for hand brakes and the train crew re-
Sponded. one hand brake failing to work
because it was frozen up. Baldwin re-
vcrsed his engine and the train slowed
down somewhat but was going four or
five miles AN hour al the time it struck
the freight train. just before the col
usion Baldwin ana the fireman swung
off the locomotive and Baldwin struck
against post rolled under the wheels
aud was killed 1T was "A snowy day,
the wind blowing somewhat and the To-
comotiVe was being backed, as was the
custom ON the train from Milcrs Fails
to- Brattleboro.
The evidence of the plaintiff tended to
show that after the accident the air
pump on the locomotive was found not
to he working; that after an admins
traitor was appointed some two weeks
afterWard Mr. Fits. as attorney for the
administrator. went to the foreman of
the company in Brattleboro and asked
leave to have the air pump examined by
competent men; that the foreman prom
ised to communicate with the foreman
at St. Adams and see if it could be
done: that the next night afterward the
foreman had. without notifying the at
torney. taken off the pump and was pre-
pairing to send it on the night train to
St. Adams and had nearly new pump
put on the locomotive in its place; that
the attorney learned what was going on
and went with an officer and took the
detached pump and took it to the cleo
trio light station in Bratleboro and had
it examined by c. y. Bracket and n. NJ.
liadley: that they found a piece broken
out of the steam cylinder of the pump
and took impressions of the break on
paper The plaintiff claimed that the
stopping of the pump at the time OF
Baldwin's death was due to the break
and that the company knew the pump to
be defective when it was put into ser
vice.
The master mechanic of the company
Nllham Dohson or New LONDON, teStl-
fed that in July before the accident he
oNefhauled the pump ana louhu Ill tile
steam cNllhuer a snort run IN the cast
ing; tnat ne ana nor know Whether such
a defect damaged the iron or not. The
plaintiff introduced as witnesses j. \
TITUS OF l5rattleooro, an experienced ma
chimst and f. w. Illden or Hilndsaie
\. H.. an experienced touhdrNman' VINO
both testlIeu tnat snort run III tht
casllhg lhdlcated prlttie ana poor lroi
at that point, ana that II was uhsaie t'
use such a casting where strength was
required EXPERIMENTS We're made II
the presence OF the jury tending tc
snow mat piece broken iTom the ue'
rect in question would cause the pump
to stop. Several citizens OF London
derry testlhed as TO the Sood character
and standing of Baldwin as man
Baldwin was a widower and left niue
girl 10 years old. The SUIT Is Tor hei
benefit.
The evidence OF the defendant covered