The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
WITNESSES TELL OF
STREET CAR HORROR
No Light Shown on the Wild
Freight Cars
COUPLING WAS DEFECTIVE
Car Which Broke Had Been Con-
denmed BY Inspectors and Ordered
to the Shops-lnquest Re-
sumed Tuesday.

Coroner Paris and his jury spent an
active day yesterday probing into the
horrible wreck of the night before at
the corner of First avenue and Twenty
seventh street.
Early in the morning they went to the
scene of the demolished street car, and
over the ground carefully. They took
exact measurements and consulted over
the probable causes and its responsibility.
The jury then adjourned until o'clock
in the afternoon, when it assembled in
the grand jury room of the court house,
to take all testimony and go into an
official investigation.
Until o'clock witness after witness
was placed on the stand, and the jury
again adjourned, with only half Of the
work completed. The whole of the after
noon was taken up with the hearing of
witnesses employed by the Southern rail-
way, and none of the street railway men
were placed on the stand.
Attorney Wiley was present to repre-
sent the Southern railway, while Attor-
ney Avant looked after the interest Of
the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company. The jury is composed
of L. f. Riley, foreman; w. II. Johnson
Lee Deneau, Thomas Huey, A. NJ. Ash
more and II. II. Thomas.
Inspectors at the Crossing.
Inspectors Marcum and Freeman of the
Southern were the two most important
witnesses. They stated that they were
standing at the crossing at the time of
the accident. Ire testimony was to tho
effect that there was no light on the
end of the box car which aid the damage,
and that it was moving at a rapid clip.
Further they stated that they saw no
one dismount from the street car to flag
the crossing as is required and that the
car either did not stop at all for the
crossing, or stopped after it had passed
onto the tracks and that only for a mo-
ment.
Another important piece OF evidence
introduced by Freeman was to the effect
that the car from which the fatal coal
car broke loose, was a worthless one and
that he himself had condemned It, mark
ing It for the shops. He stated that the
drawhead and timber on this car was
defective. and accounted for tho break.
Negro Brakeman Testifies.
Brakeman Hayes, negro, was on the
front end OF the coal car at the time. lie
testified that he saw the reflection of the
street cars headlight, when about three
car lengths from the crossing, and that he
gave the stop signal with his lantern. lie
then felt jerk, but did not know what
1t was at the time He afterward found
out that the engineer had stopped but
the coupling between the cars had broken
and he was rolling down hill.
He shouted to the motorman to stop,
but instead the street car kept on NOV
ing He did not know whether the motor
man heard him or not. He set up the
brakes, but the car kept moving. When
within ten feet of the electric car he
jumped to the ground and Immediately
afterward the crash came. Neither did he
see a hagman in front OF the moving
car.
The course of the evidence tended to
prove that the fault did not lie with
the engineer, or the brakeman. but with
the weak coupling on the freight car.
An attempt was made to prove that the
crossing was not tagged. but this will be
known when the street car men are ex-
amned.
The jury adjourned to meet again next
Tuesday morning in the coroner's office,
when all other evidence will be taken and
the verdict will be found.
Victims of the Wreck.
The victims OF the wreck lay last night
In the undertaking parlors Of Lige 10y.
Alfred l.. Simpson. aged 20 years. a young
graduate of the Massey Business college,
and an employee of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad in the general yard
masters office at Boyles, was q bright
young fellow who leaves many friends
among the young people. His remains
were sent to Odenville yesterday after
noon. His father is the pastor OF the
Cumberland Presbyterian church at
Woodlawn.
A. s. King, aged 81 years. vino lived at
GO23 First avenue. Woodlawn, leaves a
wife and children, who will accompany
the remains to Lawrence this morning.
King was an employe of the Henry Furni-
ture company man OF good character
| and many friends.
The funeral services over the body of
Jay Caverno, the 22-year-old young man.
who was also victim of the wreck were
held from the residence, $50 Luster Row,
Woodlawn, yesterday afternoon and in
ternent was made in Woodlawn ceme-
| terry.
| George Dobbins. an 1S-year-old boy. was
| found at late hour to be the son of a
| Mr. Dobbins at First avenue and Thir-
| ty-third street The funeral will be con-
Quoted from the residence this afternoon
at o'clock and interment will be made
in Oak Hill cemetery.
The injured. four OF whom are at the
Copeland infirmary, are getting along as
well as could be hoped. and none Is ex-
pected to die. ]. A. Young Of Woodlawn
is suffering tho most from bruises all
over the body and the amputation of his
right leg. W NJ. Brantley of North Bir-
mingham suffered severe internal injuries,
which 1t is feared will give him consid-