Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-11
TRYING TO FIX BLAME
Remarkable Admissions at
Train-Wreck Hearing
HELD IN NEW YORK TODAY
Trial of Vice President Smith of the
New York Central.
SOME STARTLING REVELATIONS
Motorman Rogers, Who Had Only
Four Days Training on Electrical
Engine, Continues His Story.
SOME STARTLING REVELATIONS

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 1.-THE motor
man of the train wrecked at Woodlawn
last February, Edward II. Rogers, who
testified yesterday that he had only four
days training on an electrical engine be-
fore the accident, was again on the wit
ness stand this morning at the trial of
Vice President Alfred Smith of the New
York Central, as a witness for the prose-
cution. His admissions caused Mr.. Nicoll,
for the defense, to cross-examine him at
great length yesterday afternoon in order
to establish, if possible, his fitness for the
post of engineer at the time of the dis
aster. The witness testified to a long ex-
perience on steam locomotives, but Mr..
Nicoli found little to add to the four
trial track, which the witness told Mr..
Smythe about yesterday as the sum of his
experience at the controller of The new
engine.
Had you ridden over the curve where
the wreck occurred before the accident?"
Mr.. Nicoll asked.
"a great many times, as a passenger,
going to my home at Wakefield replied
Rogers.
And sometimes you rode in the cab?"-
"Yes."
You were thoroughly familiar with the
| curves and cross-overs on the track in
| that Section?''
The witness said he was.
~, &c,
examination paper as showing his general
| knowledge of the line. Prosecutor Smythe
| had conceded ali this, however, in his
| opening address. His sole contention had
| been that the engineer was d green
hand in respect to running and judging
| the speed of the new electric engines. A
| prolonged examination by Mr.. Nicoll
| failed to add anything to what the wit
ness testified to yesterday on this point.
Experience on Passenger Trains.
| Judge Kellogg asked the witness ABOUT
his experience on passenger trains in the
| few days just before the accident.
| "The first train l took out was on Feb
ruary l.; that was Tuesday and the acct
dent was on Saturday" the witness de-
| clared
He had made three round trips dali,
| thereafter, and had, therefore, passed
| the curve where the W. eek occurred there
| he continued
You took that curve all those times
at the same speed as on the night of the
| accident?" asked Mr.. Nicoll.
II believe / did,
''What speed was that?'
Between forty and fifty miles an
| hour
you were mindful of the rule of the
| company prohibiting you from making up
time?"
Il was"
and you observed that rule through
out?''
II did,
Surprised the Questioner.
The witness surprised Mr.. Nicoll by
stating that he did not know, and hadn't
| been told by any one, what the maximum
speed of the electric engine was when full
power was turned on.
Didn't you know that with the con-
troller at series parallel you ran at three
| quarter speed?'
| "rhey called 1t one-half speed"
| AT the time of the accident where was
your controller"
AT series parallel This meant from
| one-half to three-quarter speed.
| You are sure it was not at full speed?'
| Positive"
The witness then told exactly the speeds
| at which he ran the train up to the time
| of the wreck At one spot he had full
power on, he stated But at the Wood
| lawn curve he had on only part power, he
| was sure.