New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-22
HEDGES TAKES CHARGE.
Governors Counsel assumes Task of
Examination IN Wreck Inquiry.

After a long conference in the morning, job f.
Hedges, the special counsel appointed by Governor
Hughes TO look after the State Railroad Commits
sions investigation into the OF the wrecknE
Of the Brewster express last Saturday, conducted
the examination himself. instead Of leaving the
asking Of questions to the four commissioners.
The commission viii not continue its examination
until next Tuesday, the long recess being taken at
the suggestion of Nj Hedges that the coroner
may continue his inquest
Although the investigation proceeded more rap
idly than Wednesday, little that was new was
brought out. Some testimony was introduced sug-
costing the possibility that the brake bolt dropped
from the train preceding the wrecked express
might have caused the accident. but for the most
part the Witnesses apparently sought to show no
moro than that no possible agency could have
averted the wreck and that no one could explain
why it happened. Deputy Attorney General DON
nelly was there. too, being the first to reach
the commissions Offices at No Madison avenue.
The first witness was G. ". Der.ng, conductor
OF the train which lost the brake bolt. He said
that his engine driver had noticed something
wrong with the brake connection. Il was found
that bolt had been dropped, which was replaced
South Mount Vernon
Levy o. Roy. inspector on the Harlem
Division. corroborated this statement about the
bolt He said that Il never had been found
The brakeman VINO reported the defective brake
Francis J. o Bren. said that he had seen sparks
under his train at Woodlawn while he was on the
rear end Of the second car. He heard a noise as
but did not think that the noise indicated that my
thing wrong with the brake After finding
out what was the matter lie said that he took of
the bottom lever and cut the brake off the car
after which the train proceeded
\ trackwalker Joseph Matzeu. testified that he
had sixteen men under him working continuously
ten hours at a stretch. Nothing wrong with the
ported 10 him. lie testified that he had gagged
noon at O'Clock lie found no obstacle on the
tae omauon tha some ~ the rails at the curve
had been reSpikcd TWO days before the accident
old ones Tie witness then said that no track
for each Inspecting section three or four
,lHlGs a CAV 40 one, ne said. had gone over the
with tie defective brake and the wrecked train
The last inspection Was made ~ { o'clock, when
everything Wa apparently In good condition.
o. While The wines has been FOR seven years in
section foreman. he can barely speak English and
the commissioners had great trouble in understand
each side Of the ran Sometimes IN sumner err two
from spreading but thia had not been done at the
The %2s mgoTtoat PamSs 4 vet made BY
Thursday. Matzen said that he had done so be-
7Ts showed in NJ Doneiys Opinion ,'t that |i the
rails had spread once. ana might have done so
Matzon then tried interpret for another track
fish The result was not at ali satisfactory aHd
Mr.. Hedges turned him over TO MIR DounelIy. with
pleasure he said After some time 1t agreed
that the witness had testified that he had not
found the tracks in need of rcspiking
Little gained from the testimony Of the sue
ceediug witness. J. 7. O'ConneN. who showed no
desire 10 throw any light on anything connected
with tho wreck lie is q wreCkinC master with
number % men under him limited only by the
emergency. After telling of his work n rghtng
the cars Mr.. Hedges asked If he had formed any
opinion to the cause OF tho wreck
- nave not" said the witness. and IL is not
justice to ask such question"
why isn't II JUSTICE asked MIR Hedges
We'll ! under oath. and ! don't intend 10
give heaTsay evidence the reply
Then he was asked H. not being under oath he
had formed opinion. TO which he replied that he
had heard two opinions one that "A spread track
had caused thn disaster and tho other that a de-
fective wheel had been responsible. Then he added
that in cases IT Impossible to tell what
would accident.
4 believe it, said Nj Hedges. dryly