Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-14
OPEN SWITCH.
CONTINUED from page ID
on, VOL have anything to do WITH

.Di,, Won have anything to do WITH
throw ing the switches
No
ca,,,,iseioner Peaks inquired;
IN what condition was the stup-
SWITCH .a boon
struck by something. o
The witness also said tnat aitei
reaching the stub switch, the raiis
vere undisturbed. Beyond this switch
the sleepers were pushed ahead ana 'he
,ai,s were ripped up and twisted.
Co,,,,oissioner Chadbourne: Would
I, he possible to turn switch "he'i
it was locked: ILL.,. ;
IT have kncwn it to be done with
worn ont switch
Was this an old one?'
no. 1t was new. 1t had neeh uSeu
ONLY a few weeks
Did YOU see the accident?
YES" 80,
"Hoyr fast was the train going:
"A mile minute
"Ifow long had the freight cars pee'i
on the siding?'
"Only few minutes.
"Who put them there!
Mr.. Crockett"
"Who vas the yard master! =,
">:r rm,nds. He went up that day.
"Iia1 h.. eyer been there before!
Yves. for several years during iair
weeks
What was his business?
-
"IIow long had he been employed by
the road?"
Flight or ten years, l guess
"IJad anv train passed over tn"
s,ritch since the cars were set on the
siding before the passenger went!
No"
Albert 7. Jellison Of Lewiston. fore
man Of this section of the NJ. {. X X,
was called.
"Wbon were you last over the track,
before the acrident""' wis asked
an the forenoon
"In what condition We're the tracks
and switches"
Good
Had you worked them?"
"Yes"
How did they work?'
'All right" ,
"HDw soon did you go to the wreck &!
I'm 20 minutes after it occurred
What did you do
Il saw the switch was open Tor the
sid. linz. swung it onto the mar;
line and locked it. l spiked it
did il work all right when you
changed it?'
Yes"
Witness described the condition OF
+rack &C left by the wreck precisely as
did Mr.. Tarr.
County Attorney SHELTON: Why o''
you spike the switch
so no one coull open it.
when did you remove the spikes!
"After the track was repaired
"Was scrap-iron piled on the wes'
side of the track
Yes"
"How far away from the track was
it,
Ten or twelve feet.
"Did the train hit it,"
s'Something hit it. 1t was scattered.
"Do you know who left the frelsn'
cars on the siding
No"
"pid the engine tip over on it's side
on the west side of the track:
yes"
Robert A. Rounds of Auburn. con
duttor on the NJ. c. r. r.. testified n
v,s v,rd master at the fair ground
ON the day of the accident. He ma
hid that position for seven years.
..Who was under YOU was asked.
L
men.
we had shifter to move the car
about"
after 13. passenger train from Port
lard to Waerville. passed. going eas'
what took place."
..Tbe stock was unloaded and TN
cars were removed to make room III
more. The empties were moved do"'
the main line and set onto the SIDING
who did this work?
MIR. Crockett, Mr.. Buck ana MI
Hreckenridge.'
'.pid you see the accident!
NO l heard 1t.
How soon did you reach the wrec
after. itSeccurred?
In few minutes.
In what condition was the spill
SWITCH"
.'Open for the siding
Did you touch it,"
No
Did you see anything about tn
switch indicating it had been strucl
aud were the rails in proper places?
Yes.
Were Mr.. Crockett and the men ur
der him supposed to operate tn
switches"
yes"
"Who was last over the siding aftt
the empty cars We're left there?
NO one had any occasion to wor
them"
Attorney Skelton-"What time wei
freight cars set OVER"
"Retween 500 and $50 p. NJ"
What time was No. "a. the wreckt
train. due"
AT AIS"
Witness was waiting for a freigl
due at 3 P. NJ"
Would you have set it onto the sic
track"
No"
so the open switch had nothing
do with the expected freight"
No"
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