The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-12-06
STATEMENT OF
Says BE is Not Responsible For.
Wreck and Could Prove Claim IF
Given Opportunity Co be Heard.

Says He is Not Responsible For
Wreck and Could Prove Claim IF
Given Opportunity to be Heard.
Lynchburg, Va, Special-Opera.
tor G. d. Mottox, who is charged by
officials of the Southern Railway
Company with being responsible for
Thursdays wreck, ten miles below
Lynehburg, when seen Sunday at his
home, eight miles from here, by the
representative of the Associated
Press, made the following statement
In his W behalf:
"The statement of officials of the
Southern Railway that I have been
missing since the wreck of Thursday
morning and could not be found, al
though detectives of the company
were securing the, country for me, is
without the slightest foundation. l
have been at my boarding place prac-
tically all of the time since the acci-
dent. This is the first statement I.
have been asked to make about tho
matter and you referring to the re-
porter are the first person that l
know of that has asked for me.
Con the night preceding the wreck
I attended a box party In the neigh
borhood with friends, the day opera.
tor working for me until ! returned to
the office about midnight. The night
being chilly the operator, L. Clemmer,
decided to remain at the Office until
6 o'clock. He returned at z andre
lieved me, suggesting that / go home,
because it vas apparent to him that
I had passed through in the previous
hour. / did this and remained at
home the entire day. About 6 O'Clock
getting my usual midnight lunch ]
started for the station to report for
night duty. Reaching the office i
saw a large crowd congregated out
side and from what I heard I con
cluded it would be best for me not
to GO in the Office. / learned from the
day operator that another operator
had been sent to relieve me and this
is all the notice / have had that my
services were not wanted that night.
After that / returned and slept the
night through.
81 am not to blame for the wreck
and / think / would have no trouble
to substantiate this claim if given the
opportunity to be heard. Operator
| Clemmer and a student operator were
both in the Office and heard the oper-
ator at Lawyers give MT a clear track
for No. 33 (the train to which Presi-
dent Spencer's car was attached.
This was at 6 o'clock, as the block
sheet in the office will show. If my
recollection serves me right, No. 80
passed Rangoon at sos and l report
ed this to Lawyers. I cannot recall
that the operator there signed for tbs
report, but it was his business to be
there to take the report. / let No
80 in the block because Lawyers gave
me the right of way for the train,
When No. 81 (which collided with
the rear of No. 33) left Winners (the
first block station north of Rangoon)
I began to call for LAWYERS. / con-
tinued to call until the train wa:
nearly in sight of my office I'D goI
Lawyers just as 81 was coming il
sight. He gave me a clear block fol
No. 81 at 6:12. I remember the Tins
very distinctly and the train passed
the block at GA. AS No. 81 wa:
passing Rangoon / was talking to the
operator at Lawyers. He wanted tt
know when No. 33 was by me. I tolc
him at the time my sheet shows, but
1 cannot recall the minute.
"Then l asked him, "When BY
you, and he said 'by," but did moi
give me the time. I did not give No
81 a clear block until the operator al
Lawyers gave me authority and I car
prove this by Operator Clemmer an6
by the student operator, who has beer
studying at the office for the pas
year. When No. 81 had entered the
block Lawyers told me that No. g
was by and when / asked him the
time so I could record it, he opened
his key and did not reply. No. 81
had gone then.
81 do not feel responsible for tht
accident and I have been and an
new where the railway detectives o.
authorities can find me at any time
I have no desire to get away, but
would court an investigation to clear
/ tie matter up"