The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-19
THURSDAY. JULY Io, 1906.
THE ATwELLs AVENUE FATALITY.

The prompt arrest of the motorman OF car
that has run over and killed citizen is such an un-
precedented happening in the city of Providence as
TO at once arrest public interest and attention. This
is what happened last evening in connection with
the shocking and tragic death of John Kenny on
Atwells avenue, and public sentiment approves the
action OF the police in the matter which, though
unusual, was certainly demanded by the circum-
stances.
Heretofore when life has been crushed out by
cars operated in public thoroughfares, no attempt
has been made TO take the car crew into custody,
though such is the universal practice elsewhere.
Failure by the police act in such has been
attributed in the public mind to the questionable
influences which the traction company exercises in
practically every matter in which popular rights
and interests are concerned.
The new departure will therefore, be welcomed
as an indication that hereafter employees OF the trac
tion companies to be treated in no way different
from others whose apparent negligence results
in the destruction OF human life.
AS to the fatality itself an official investigation
will not doubt determine the responsibility. But
without attempting to PREJUDICE the it may
be said the statements of those who witnessed the
deporable affair appear to establish the fact that
the running at dangerous speed when it
struck and hurled Mr.. Kenny to his death
Atwell's avenue is much-traveled street and
at the intersection OF Knight street it is particularly
So 1t would SEEM therefore, that cars should be
run with special caution at that point, but if the
statements made by those who witnessed last
nights deplorabe happening are correct this was
not done.
Persons who were the scene OF the fatal
ity, as we'll as passengers on the car, say 1t was
going very fast" when Mr.. Kenny was struck. In
contradiction OF this is the declaration of the motor
man that the not proceeding at a rate Of
more than three miles an hour when the was
run down
The preponderanee OF testimony is certainly
against the motormans claim and SO is the state
ment that when Mr.. Kenny struck his body
was hurled distance Of fifteen feet and fell against
the curbing. 1t is hardly probable car running at
the very moderate speed OF three miles an hour
would have projected body any such distance.
There is another fact that appears to have an
important bearing this fatality and its cause.
The motorman was green hand" He had been
employed by the Rhode Island company only two
or three weeks and the fatal trip the first he
had made over the Atwell's avenue route unaccom-
panied by an experienced motorman.
Here we have case parallel in some vital
aspects to the Moores Corners disaster. In the
Atwell's avenue fatality the motorman but
novice, with but limited experience in operating
trolley cars. In the East Providence fatality the
motorman novice in so far acquaintance
with the route was concerned.
Whether negligence played any part in either
case, lack OF experience certainly did in both. and
for putting such inexperienced men in charge OF
cars responsibility rests somewhere and should be
fixed.