Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-09

hour little too fast to be running when
under double green signal and on down
grade.
Position Of the Coaches.
Frederick w. Wiltberger, a messenger In
the War Department. who resides about
seventy-five Yards from the scene of the
accident. testified to the position of the
coaches of the extra train after the wreck.
James c. Cannon. 16A Monticello avenue
northeast. a fireman on the Baltimore and
Ohio and member of the crew of extra
1868 Sunday night. testified to running to
Terra Gotta Sunday night under orders.
with track hands. an operator and others
picked up at kensngton and Silver Spring.
j. II. Peer of Martinsburg. w. Va. an
engineer in the employ of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad for twenty years, testt-
fied he ran train known as No. 49, leav-
ing Brunswick at T:45 o'clock At kensing-
ton. he said. he was stopped by a red light,
but later received white block and pro-
ceeded. Before reaching the end of the
block. he said. he was stopped by the flag
man of a rggers' train.
Was the white signal at Kensington a
proper one with another train in the
block asked the coroner.
What was the cause of the erroneous
signal being Shown
Il do not know The operator at Silver
Spring claimed he had told Kensington the
block was not clear. l understand the
kensngton operator says he did receive
report of clear block from the Silver
Spring man..
Continuing, Peer said: Il asked the OPP
orator at Silver Spring how he came to let
me in at kensington under the clear. The
young man told he didn't know. be-
cause he told kensington the block was
not clear
Attorney Davis interjected query:
Then the fault. Mr.. Peer. lies between the
operators at kensington and Silver
Spring.
Adjournment was taken at $50 o'clock
until 1870 O'Clock this morning.
Coroner to See Witnesses.
Coroner hewitt has instructed all per-
sons who appeared as witnesses at the
inquest to call to see him tomorrow after
noon between o'clock and o'clock.
Il consider that the engineer and con-
ductor of train 66 were in error l., passing
the double green signal at Silver Spring.
The conductor and engineer of 2120, having
testified to running at a high rate of speed,
were equally responsible
Would you hold the other members of
either crew.
No, 1 would not consider the fireman.
baggagemaster nor fiagman of either crew
to be responsible.
Are you surprised at the laxity shown
In the observance of rules by various en-
ployes?"
II certainly am. I am surprised at the
disregard of their trust. can only say
that in operating a railroad you must de-
pend upon the reliability and trustworthi-
ness of the employees"
Do you consider double green signal
at Silver Spring at 6:2S an improper one?'
Yes
Should Hildebrand have stopped at Sill
Yer Spring If his watch showed 6:31 when
he passed under the double green?'
IF he passed Silver Spring at 631, the
double green applied.
Case Goes to the Jury.
Has not this investigation shown con-
cluSively that the $50 closing system ad-
mits of possible serious accidents, and that
the system is defectve?'
Not If the rules are rigidly complied
with
Considering human liability to err, do
you not believe there is serious doubt as
to the value of this SYSTEM"
II consider the block system safe
Then, II Takoma had been a twenty
four-hour station would not Hidebrand
either have stopped at that point or been
more careful?"
Il do not consider that Takoma not be-
ing twenty-four-hou Office had anything
to do with the accident II that system is
not safe 1 do not believe there Is signal
system in the country that would cover all
emergencies
The was given to the jury at 3 O2
o'clock this afternoon.