The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-05

This is the third day following the aw-
ful fatality on the Rhode Isand company >
East Providence line. at Moores corners
and no arrest has yet been made nor has
any been ordered So far as could be as
certained today. no one connected with
the ill-fated car is even under surveil-
lance.
The funerals OF four victims OF some
ones blunder were held today. two this
morning and a double funeral this after
noon: and other funerals will be held to-
morrow.
In the Rhode Island and St Joseph :
hospitals are number OF MANNED and
suffering young men and young women.
while upward OF 80 others will bear marks
OF the accident for years.
The inquest date has just been fixed but
no witnesses have been summoned, and
every trace OF the horror has been re-
moved from Moore's corners. The in
quest will be opened by Coroner Harmon
s. Babcock In the East Providence town
hall at 10 a. m. on Thursday
The Rhode Island company's claims de-
partment is exceedingly busy One OF its
claims agents went to the scene OF the
accident on the jump Sunday morning.
reaching there even before many OF the
physicians. while wrecking crews sum-
moned Immediately after the accident
cleared up the wreck and whisked away
the car which had caused IL in the quick
est time on record
The practice I'm some states. notably in
New York Is for the authorities 10 ar
rest or al least detain, the car Grew. or
the motorman. pending the arrival of the
medical examiner and the coroner 10 al
low those public officials opportunity to
pass upon the circumstances attending
the fatality.
In Rhode Island the practice scenes To
be TO leave the detention OF a driver engi-
neer, chauffeur or motorman TO the dis
cretion OF the first officer on the spot.
II he does not see mt TO detain the per-
son in charge OF the vehicle OF death, and
the latter gets away before the arrival OF
the coroner. the state takes the chance
OF ever seeing him again. whether or not
Il may he determined later that he was a,
fault In the premises.
When DIR. Palmer was medical exam
liner in-this city. he always insisted that
the police detain persons who might be
even remotely responsible for a fatal ac-
cident thus giving the coroner opport u
nifty 10 make prompt tnd thorough exam
iration, and then TO swear out a warrant
n. in his Judgment. the circumstances
justified such action.
DR. Palmer was not over considerate OF
the feelings OF corporations or of private
individuals where the pubic safety was
concerned. He acted promptly and vigor-
ousiy in the cause OF strict Justice.
Many representative attorneys who read
the News Democrat last night and noted
The activity OF the Rhode Island COM
pany's agents at the scene OF the horror
OF Sunday morning have discussed II with
some warmth.
Some expressed the opinion that the
company's employees might have been act
uated only by the laudable purposes OF
succoring the wounded, arranging the
dead for inspection by the medical exam
iner and removing distractions from the
highway in the interest of the general
public, as well as 10 make way for the
great volume OF street car traffic over
that route later in the day.
They added. however. that the almost
feverish activity displayed by the wreck
ers urged on by the presence OF one OF
the company's attorneys and OF an assist
ant claims agent. might be viewed with
some suspicion or at least be open to crit
icism.
Said one attorney. who has no claim TO
prosecute against the Rhode Island COM
pany: 1T looks peculiar to me. The po-
sition OF the car relative TO the curve II
left, the position OF the trucks and the
condition OF the car would be the pes,
kind OF evidence on the question OF the
speed and handling OF the car. These