The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-15
M0T0RMAN RAFFERTY,
CALLED At INQUIRY
Al the Moors's Corners Trolley Accident Hearing Mooman
Tells af the Route and Its Dangerous Points and Gives
MooTman Leuchner Credit Of Being Capable Man. Two
More Witnesses Brothers Of the First, Tell OF Their Ex.
perencis at the Scene on the Night Of June g.

quest on the Moore's Corners horror OF
June 3 was resumed by Coroner Babcock
in the seventh District court room at
East Providence
Notwithstanding the seriousness OF the
accident there has been "A diminishing
number OF spectators from the nrst morn
ing.
Three witnesses had been summon
sdfor today's hearing, Andrew Rafferty,
OF Thornton motorman on the second
car: John Rafferty,. an employe OF the
British Hosiery company, and Martin
Rafferty,, an brothers
The street railroad company has been
the only outside party represented con-
tinuously at the inquest thus far. and
its repre- sentative. William G. Bliss Esq,
has shown a sincere desire on the part
or the company TO arrive at the exact
conditions and the cause OF the ac-
cident.
The first witness sailed was Andrew j.
Rafferty,. the motorman on the rear car.
and his testimony was substantially az
follows:
MY age is % years and my residence
at No. Benuy place, Thornton; occu-
patton, motorman. | was one OF those
motormen who was sent to Crescent Park
on special cars on the night OF June
and was on the car In the rear OF the
wrecked one. on the return trip there
were IS or so passengers and started from
Crescent Park with this number. Later
more passengers were taken on between
Boyden Heights and Riverside. but took
no passengers at any other point stopped
four minutes 10 take on these passen-
gers by estimation. They did not belong
TO the party and there was some argu-
ment about taking them on.
I'VE left Crescent Park about l2;6
q. M. by estimation; the forward car
left Crescent Park about the same time.
II did not keep In view OF the forward
car all the way up and the last sight OF
the forward car was when | made the
stop the forward car made no stops ex-
cept at the signal light
II do not know whether the forward
car took on any passengers except those
who belonged TO the party. The conductor
on my car was Thomas Broudrey.
I'VE arrived at the scene OF the acci-
dent at 1925 a. m. but this time is estima-
ted; should say that II would be about 10
minutes run from Crescent Park 10
Moore's corners; when the car was going
at ordinary speed; my car proceeded at
ordinary speed and reckon is or 20 miles
an hour as ordinary speed but ~ re-
pends on different localities I don't run
as fast in the city as In the suburbs aad
mean that the car was running at ordi-
nary speed for that particular route.
should Judge arrived at Moore's Corners
about four minutes after the accident,
providing the first car was going at the
same rate of speed as my car which.
however. | do not know.
when / arrived az the accident some
OF the passengers had got out OF the
overturned cars the fact that the passen-
gers in the overturned cur had not all
got out when / arrived would assist me
tn making up the estimate OF the time.
"The night was foggy and damp. and
II was dark: the rails were moist and
slippery: II the car was going down grade
at the rate OF 10 or 20 miles per hour. i.
could be stopped, II the rail was dry, In
100 feet. II the rails were moist and slip
perry the car could be stopped within 200
feet. The fog was dense and was about
OF the same character all the way from
Crescent Park To Moores Corners.
II did not observe any arc lights between
Crescent Park and Moores Corners. but
saw one at the corners; when ] arrived
there the light was burning so that IL
shone across the street. My car stopped
about 18 yards from the corners; |
stopped because a girl told the passengers
that the forward car was overturned at
Moores Corners
From where my car stopped | could
see the light at Moore's Corners burning
and could see the overturned car
1T was doubtful II man who did not
know there was a corner there could have
told II from the light. ! knew there was
. corner there; / stopped there about
minute and n half, | then went TO East
Providence 10 find doctors and 20 get the
wrecker, which was at the Traverse street
barn in Providence; had 20 pass the place
where the car had been overturned
I'm passing over this place don't know
as the car met with any obstruction: II
there had been a stone two inches and
a half in diameter and three quarters OF
an inch In thickness on the rail and the
car had gone over II should have felt
the Jar but the wheel would probably
have showed the stone ahead or aside.
II don't think the car would have
moved the stone out OF place. and after
passing II rolled II back again; Il was
about eight minutes from the time the
car stopped until II went over the route
20 East Providence. The electric light
st the corners burned very dimly. It was
the fourth time that l ran over this
route, but don't know Of any post 500 feet
from the corners, the bottom OF which
was painted red and white above that.
don't know what such post would
signify II ! saw Il; l don't know that
there are any poles painted in a peculiar
manner on any route with which I am
familiar. and II / had seen such n pole
Il would not have meant anything 10
me.
II am acquainted with Mr. Leuchner.
the motorman on the wrecked car. and
he told me that he ran over this route
the week before: have known him for
about three years. since he has been in
the company's services He has not been
In the service OF the Rhode Island com