The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-03-02
Appears in.lnqriry as to
Cause Of a Wreck.
ON N. y. CENTRAL.
President Newman Appears Before
Corone.'s Jury and Tells Of a
Remarkable Test He Mad.

New York, March "A new ahd re-
nfarkable aspect was given Friday TO
tho coroner's investigation of the dis.
astrous wreck on the Harlem division
Of the New York Central railroad on
February l6 in which 20 persons lost
their lives and more than hundred
we're injured. President Newman OF
the railroad, appeared az witness,
bringing with him all the principal Of.
acers OF tho company who were in any
way concerned in the construction and
operation OF the line where the wreck
occurred. Mr.. Newman told the coro-
ner that he desired to make clear To
Tho Jury upon whom the responsibility
for the condition Of the track and the
operation Of trains rested. Among
hose responsible he named himself as
president Of the company
Just before the reopening of the
hearing Mr.. Newman said that since
the last session several days ago n
discovery had been made which may
have most important bearing on tho
cause of. the disaster. This. he said.
was the fact that one OF the front
wheels OF the truck Of tho smoking car
Immediately behind tine second loco.
motive bore deep indentations as II 1t
had come in violent contact with some
object which may have fallen from the
rear locorsotivc.
With the appearance or Mr.. Now
man and his subordinatcs also came n
story of remarkable experimental
test which Is said to have been made
h,,x .,R tot 4. 10 Ila, ell yI
Thursday According TO this story
rain Identical with the one which was
wrecked was made mp and with all the
principal officers who had any part in
the construction and operation of the
racks and trains on the Harlem dlvi-
sion was sent over the line.
On the outward trip the train was
sent around the curve where the
loaded train came 10 grief at speed
Of ST. miles per hour, as called for In
the schedule. The train arrived at the
outward terminal evactly on time aud
without mishap. The officials de-
clare that on the inward trip the
speed of the train varied from 60 TO SO
speed-S2 milea--was maintained as
The train rounded the fatal curve.
Elaborate preparations for obsory-
ing the conditions as tie train rounded
The curve at this tremendous speed
had been made. score or more of
experts in construction and operation
had been assigned TO various petitions
at the curve. one to watch the track,
another tho roadbed and another the
motion OF the train as II swept around
the curve. The officials declare that
every one of these men reported that
everything worked perfectly
At the previous eession of the jury
Assistant District Attorney Smythe
announced that he would ask the jury
TO find the railway company and Vice
President Wilgus guilty of criminal
negligence. II was TO hear Mr.. VII
gus testimony that the inquest recon-
vencd Friday. President Newman
was permitted 10 take the stand FIRST,
however, and was questioned as to re.
spcnsibility for trains and track and
schedule. He replied he not only
held Mr.. Wilgus department RESPONSE
BILE for the accident, but several other
as we'll.
NJ. Wilgus stated that he had moth.
Ing to do with tho operating Of the
electric road since July J. 1908. when
The. operating OF the road was divided
among various heads of departments.