The Washington herald., 1906-10-25
BLAME The POLICE
Witnesses Believe Engineer
Could Have Been Saved.
MACHINIsT TELLS HIS STORY
Declares He Was Driven Away
When He Sought To Lend Aid-SeN-
eraI Others Tried To Assist Dying
Man. but Were Forced to Desert.
Saw OHeer strike at some One.

Examination Of witnesses for the prose
euuon consumed yesterdays sttings in
the trial of Capt W. II. Mathews and
Lieut. j. e Mulhall charged with vio-
lation of the rules of the police force in
their action concerning Hugh 5. Murphy.
the engineer killed on the Southern Rail
way on September II.
The last witness 10 appear before the
trial board, composed Of J. F. Smith, In
spector J. A. Swindell. and Inspector F.
f. Cross. was F. II. Cox, machinst in
the navy yard. residing at 2o6 Seventh
street southwest, who testified as an eX-
pert on engines and steam valves. He
said he was endeavoring 10 stop the es-
Gaping steam when he was prevented
from doing so by the police. who drove
him from the fallen engine According
TO his testimony. the scaIding steam,
which was the cause Of Murphy's death,
might possibly have been stopped had he
been allowed TO check il.
II. T. Ireland. fiagman at the crossing
where the accident occurred. said that he
went after the jacks as soon as the acct
dent occurred. and was en- his knees at
the engine when driven away at Capt.
Mathews order. He claimed that the cap
tain thought wrecking derrick necessary
to move the engine. while witness believed
that IL could have been effected by hand
jacks.
During the morning session the Wit
nesseS were uniform in their testimony
that they were not allowed to try the
hand jacks, but were kept back by the Of
ficers. George B. Cantwell, foreman Of
the Philadelphia, Washington aud BaIti-
more Railroad, said that although he was
known to Lieut. Mulhan as railroad
man, he was summarily ordered back
when he attempted to get near the engine.
He also asserted that three-quarters OF an
hour elapsed between the time OF the ac-
cident and the liberation of Murphy
Policeman Made Him stop.
William Wolf testified that ne was one
Of the first on the scene of the accident.
and that he was attempting Ia use the
screw jack when policeman compelled
him 20 deslst. He stated that he was con-
fdent that the engine could have been
raised sufficiently TO release the victim
had the use Of the screw jack not been
prevented.
Attorney J. s Easby-Smith objected to
the testimony of Wolf. but "A sharp cross
examination failed 10 alter IT, A s
Moat testified that ne had raised the
engine sufficiently to release Murphy
right leg when he was forced to deSist
He added that he had procured two lif-
teen-tOn jacks. which in his opinion. were
easily sufficient TO raise the engine
Adolph y. Spence. foreman Of the
South railway yards. said that he reached
the wreck two minutes after it occurred.
and that IL was his duty 10 stay az every
wreck until the arrival Of assistance. yet
ne was three times ordered from the
scene by the police. Mr.. Spence stated
that he was even thrust back when hold
ing the instruments of a physician. vino
was rendering aid TO the suffering
engineer.
Continuing. the witness declared that
he had seen Capt Mathews strike a
blow az some one.
Attorney J. 5. Easby-Smlth represents
the police and Charles Bend-Heim and
Edmond Burke. the Brotherhood of LO-
connective Engineers The trial will DO
continued to-day. when the prosecution
viii continue 10 present its witnesses