The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-06-16
Files His Verdict in Hart
ing Accident.
He FINDS EVIDENCE
OF GROSS NEGLECT
As the News Found to Be the Case
at Louisville-The Pennsylvania
Company Scored.


ing in the death of Davidson b. Har-
ting by being run down on the Penn
sylvania road, May %, at the intersec-
ton of N. Young street and the Fort
Wayne railroad, brings unexpected but
ample proof of the truth Of investiga-
tion made by Councilman Barnett and
the News That the Fort Wayne per-
sists in running at reckless speed, ig-
Doring the rights of the public, by not
giving signals and not watching the
tracks ahead, is shown In the official
report of the coroner. The report was
fled in time for publication for the Re
pository, but that paper conveniently
overlooked the whole affair. 1t Is re-
markable how quickly the press can
zee anything complimentary Of the
road issuing passes to them and how
slow they are to find the uncompli-
mentary matter.
After following the regular legal
forms provided in such cases, DR..
March cuts to the bone of the situa-
tion in the following:
After having heard the evidence,
examined the body, and considered the
facts and circumstances, / do find that
the said deceased came to his death by
being struck by train at the intersec-
ton Of the Pittsburg Fort Wayne &
Chicago railroad and North Young st.,
and that the train was running at
very high rate of speed at the time.
I am led to believe from the testimony
Of the engineer that he did not blow
his whistle for this crossing, and that
common with engineers on this road.
From observation, / believe that the
crossing is the most dangerous in Can
ton and should be protected by gates,
watchman or signal bells, as has been
proposed by the city council, as much
foot and wagon traffic crosses North
Young and East Second street, their
intersection with the railroad being
common one. In about an hours time
have counted seven trains pass this
crossing, three of which did no. whis-
tie at all, and four of which did not
whistle for this particular crossing
The one whistled for the crossing at
Hurford street. quarter Of mile east
Each Of the seven rang their bells con-
tinually, however. The trains were all
west-bound and two-one passenger
and one mail train-came down silent
~ with all steam shut off, making their
great speed at this point a menace to
public safety on account of the lack OF
protection and the fact that the ap-
proach of the trains Is hidden by build
ings on both sides. i have no doubt
that Mr.. Harting's death was in part
due to his deafness, but narrow escapes
from death at this point are so fire.
quent as to demand immediate atten-
. ton from authorities and from the
railroad company.
Only three witnesses were examined
by the coroner, two who saw the acci-
dent and w. H. Trumpower, the en-
gineer of the train which killed Mr..
Harting. The testimony as given out
subscribed by the witnesses, is as fol-
lows: "e
civilian II. Trompower of Loudon-
vile, Ohio, being duly sworn, said: u
am an unmarried man, and you might
say | live anywhere, but my fathers
home is In Loudonville. was the en-
gineer on Extra East 742 on Tuesday
evening, May 20, running from Mans
field to S. X. tower, at Stark siding.
had Just the engine and the caboose
and was running backward from Mas
sillon. We were not running very fast
through Canton and was pretty slow
all the way, as my engine was running
hot and was favoring her all could
Only a trip or two after that she was
sent to the shop for hot repairs. Wher
we struck this man / noticed that my
cylinder cock came open, and though
that the bar had dropped down, ant
did not know that we had hit mar
until we reached the siding. got dowI
to fix the cock and saw that nothing
was broke and after the fireman tool
water / backed up into the yard ant
got down to finish fixing. The fireman
goes back to get his lamp and get
down Off the tank and sees the mani
hat on the tank truck box. He says
"You struck man down there" ant
showed me the hat. Then l found tn,
upper part of the mans pants on tn
caboose brake, with little pieces o
flesh sticking around one place ant
another. Then came back to the sid
ing where the accident happened. w
do not run any faster with light trail
than with a heavy one. purposely. w
have no regular speed. We do no
dash through Canton, as we must sloN
for the other railroad crossings. w
do not whistle for every crossing Il
Canton. always whistle at the targe
at the Wheeling & Lake Erie crossing
and that ought to count for coupl