Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-31
BEHALF OF OFFICERS
Testimony for Defense Before
Police Trial Board.
FIVE WITNESSES HEARD
Evidence to Show What Was Done to
Save Engineer Murphy.
EFFORTS WERE INTELLECTUAL.
Board Adiourns Until Tomorrow at
10 O'Clock A. Abbreviated
Hearing Probable.
EFFORTS WERE INEFFECTUAL

Hearing Probable.
Evidence tending to show that every
thing possible toward the rescue of Engf-
neer Murphy, whose death was caused by
wreck at 9Th street and Maryland avenue
southwest several weeks ago, without inter-
ference from the police was offered at the
session Of the police trial board today in the
cases Of Capt. Mathews and Lieut.. Mulhall.
The board convened at 10 o'clock, and at 1
o'clock adjourned to meet again tomorrow
Five witnesses were examined, among them
| being James w. Latane and Thomas C.
] Griffin. both living at 1872 Missouri avenue,
who were among the first to arrive at the
scene of the wreck.
It was predicted today that the trial will
| not be concluded until next week
Conductor Mccleary a Witness.
| A. E. McCleary, a conductor on the South
ern railroad, was the first witness to be
called today. He testified that he came in
| as passenger on a train leaving Alexan-
| dria at 1888 o'clock the evening of the acci-
| dent, and. the train being stopped at 9th
| street and Maryland avenue, he walked to
| the scene with three other railroad men,
| McCleary saw the police stretching their
ropes and pushing the crowd back, but he
saw no interference with any one who was
| trying to work, nor did he see anyone at
| tempting to aid Engineer Murphy
The part played in the case by the fire
department was rected by Capt. William F.
Lanahan, in command of No. ID engine
company. He said that his company was
one of the first sections of the fire depart
ment to reach the scene. His first act was
to get heavy stick of timber from a near
by lumber yard, and two attempts were
made to raise the engine cab from Murphys
body, but the timber was broken each time.
Then the hose wagon Of No. 10 company
was sent to AZ street. and two hydraulic
jacks were brought back, but Lanahan's
company was ordered back to quarters be-
fore any attempt could be made to use the
Jacks. Witness was positive that other
jacks were brought to the scene by any
one, and he placed the time covered by the
service OF the company at the wreck at
about one-half hour
Characterization was directed to bring
out the inference that Lanahans observa-
ton was confined to a limited time.
Engineer Murphy's Condition.
Concerning Murphy's condition. Capt
Lanahan was positive that the engineer was
terribly burned; that his hair was SCALED
off SO that he appeared to be bald, and that
flesh came off as he was touched.
Confederation Of this statement was Of
fered by Fire Marshal Nicholson, who was
recalled to the stand. Nicholson said he saw
| no interference by the police with any res
cue work, and in fact, that about a dozen
railroad men were using jacks and timbers
in efforts to raise the engine cab.
mo one engaged in attempts to save
Murphy was put out" said the fire marshal.
but the crowds pressed In so closely that
Chief Belt Of the fire department on two
occasions directed that the people be put
back, and these orders were carried out by
the police Rescue work went on. cortinu-
ously until the wrecking train arrived"
In cross-examinatiOn by Attorney Burke,
Mr.. Nicholson said he saw only two Jacks
| being used. Questions were also asked with
| the inference that much of the attention of
witness was directed elsewhere. Replying
| to Attorney Bendheim, Fire Marshal Nichol-
son said one jack he saw in service had
| made an indentation in the hood of the cab
| without raising it, so that he believed no
| effective work could be done with the jacks.
Thomas c. Griffin, a blacksmith and
former Southern railroad employe. told Of
| helping with screwjack. of carrying rail-
road ties to use in blocking, and of later
| examining one OF two hydraulic jacks which
he found to be useless. Mr.. Griffin also told
wreck by the city 1remen. The other n.y.
| draulic jack. which stood two feet six
inches in height, he said he helped carry to
| the engine. but it was too high to go under
the cab pick was brought and hole
was being made In the pavement to give the
hydraulic jack foundation when the wreck
train arrived.
ss-examined by Mr.. Bendheim, witness
| said the capacity Of the hydraulic jack was
| about fifteen tons. He saw no other jacks
On the scene. Mr.. Bendheim's examina-
ton was again directed to establish points
of time
Witness said he saw no interference by
the police with any one working on the
wreck. nor did he hear Capt. Mathews or
Lieut.. Mulhall use harsh or violent language
toward their officers or toward the crowd.
Referring to Mr.. Moffatt, one Of the earlier
witnesses in the case. Mr.. Griffin said the
only place he saw him was inside the cab
trying to use jack while the others were
working with the timber.
Redirect Examination.
In redirect examination by Attorney Eas-
by-smith. counsel for Capt. Mathews and
Lieut.. Mulhall. Mr.. Griffin expressed the
opinion. II the wreck train had not arrived,
that he and his associates could have raised
the cab with the hydraulic jack.
Testimony along the same general line
was given by the next witness, James w.
Latane Of 402 Missouri avenue. Questioned
about the actions of the police, Mr.. Latane
said he saw one policeman throw a colored
boy outside the lines but he was not dis
turbed while working, nor did he see the
police modest any other workers.
With the conclusion of Mr.. Latane's testi-
mony adjournment was taken until tomor-
row morning at 10 o'clock.
Chief Belts Testimony.
When the hearing was resumed yesterday
was called to testify. He said that upon
his arrival at the scene of the accident from
1900 to 1900 people had gathered He said
Engineer Murphy's face and head were
swollen and the skin was peeling. He be-
lieved. he said, that Murphy wanted air
and he asked the police to force the crowd
back.
Later he heard Murphy ask sergt. Dun
nigan Of the fourth precinct police to go
for a priest.
Chief Belt then told the members of the
board that after his first look at Murphy
he was satisfied he would die.
Concerning the jacks being used. he said:
II saw the tools were not strong enough
to raise the cab sufficiently to release the
engineer"
Attorney EasbY-Smith asked: did you
communicate your opinion to either Capt.
Mathews Lieut.. MulhalI?"
The chief engineer did not remember hav-
Ing done so. He had been informed, he
said, that Capt. Mathews had struck
Capt. Dixon of the fire department
r He asked Capt. Mathews concerning the
alleged assault, and was informed that the
police captain did not know Capt. Dixon
was a fireman.
Chief Belt further stated that Cant Mo-