Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-19

oolpn; tnat the train ran past Randolph
before he realized the fact, and that
he did not call out the signal to b.
white" Hilebrand said he asked Nc
Clelland what the signal was and the
latter answered "All right"
Inspection Of Watches.
At the opening of court this morning
Attorney Davis secured permission of the
court to question Conductor Hoffmeier on
two forgotten points. and then inquired of
the witrfess when his watch had last been
inspected before the date Of the wreck
Hoffmeier identified certificate showing
that his watch had been examined by the
proper railroad official and found correct,
as of February III, 1907. To another
query Mr.. Hoffmeier said he looked at his
watch the moment the wreck occurred
and It showed the time to be 6:3S pm.
Acting as a human semaphone and
standing before the jury with arms ex-
tended to represent the arms of a signal
target. United States Attorney Baker Sc
cured from the witness an admission that
the light on the signal mast at Takoma
could be seen from either side-that is,
the same lantern furnished light to illumi-
nate both the wastbound and eastbound
targets. and If he had looked back as his
train passed Takoma Gf the conditions
were normaD he could have seen that the
station was not dead" but was still in
operation: Hofmeier declared, however.
that he did not look back when passing
TakOma.
Engineer Hildebrand the last Of the
defendants to testify. followed Conductor
Honmeier on the stand. He. too ident-
fed certificates Indicating that his watch
timore and Ohio Railroad Company's in
spector. and found to be keeping correct
time. Witness said he and Baggage
master Norris compared watches before
departing from Washington Junction and
found that they conceded. The witness
also Identified the orders which he re-
ceived at WASHINGTON Junction, namely.
that Extras 212O and 1866 should follow
each other carefully under green signals
to Locust Point" Hildebrand saw train
66 pass Washington Junction while his
train was standing there. He pulled out
toward Washington at 5:2S pm, and at
Tuscarora passed extra 1865. so that 1t
was the duty of the crew of the latter to
look out for 2120 during the balance Of
the trip.
Signal at Randolph.
What signal did You see at Randolph"
Attorney Davis uuer'ed.
II didn't see any light" Hiidebrand
answered. 1.-THE smoke was drifting
across my cab as We pitched over the rise,
and called out to my fireman. McClel-
land and he said 1t was all right"
What signal was shown at Silver
Spring." Mr. Davis continued.
Double green" Hildebrand replied.
Asked to state what that indicated to him.
be said: THAT work train or extra was
In the block with permission to use tn,
crossover switches at Terra Gotta or
University: that We were to proceed with
caution. expecting to see fagman cut
protecting his train. and that the Takoma
Office was closed and the block open to
University"
six thirty-one."
How did you know the timer
by my watch
Did you look at your watch at Silver
Spring."
Yes. I saw it was 6:31 and called out
to McClelland '66 Is overdue in Washing
ION six minutes and the people ara going
down Pennsylvania avenue rejoicing"
Witness said he shut off steam at Silver
Spring, slowed down at Stotts and re-
leased the brakes upon finding no flag
man at that point. Hildebrand declared
n did not put on steam at any time after
passing Silver Spring. The rate of speed
was increased slightly by the down grade
to Takoma from about twenty miles an
hour at Silver Spring to twenty-thr,s or
twenty-four miles an hour at Takoma.
The engineer said he set the brakes at
Stotts and the speed was again ace al>r-
ated by the down grade The speed at the
to twenty three miles an hour.
Schedule Of Train No. Sc.
Hide brand declared he was not aware of
any change in the schedule Of train No. 6S
on Sundays By a question of the court It
was brought out that according to Hide
brands time. he made the distance from
Silver Spring to Terra Cotta-three and
one-fifth miles-in seven minutes, at the
rate of twenty-seven and three-seventh
mi. eS an hour.
Under cross-exam ination United States
Attorney Baker drew from H ldebrand re-
peaked declarations that it was the duty
of a passenger train crew. when running
behind Its schedule, to project itself by
sending flagmen back at every stop.
Further Cross-Examination.
Going over the point about the signal at
Randolph. Engineer Hildebrand again
stated positively that his fireman, Nc
AL right"
Coming down to Takoma. Mr.. Baker
| asked Hildebrand running fire of ques-
tons as to whether he had seen the sig
nal there displayed, or, If not. what pre-
| vented him doing so. The attorney re-
| ferred several times to statement said
| to have been made to Detectives Parham
and O'Brien by Hidebrand the day fol-
! lowing the wreck, in which the engineer
was quoted as saying that he saw the
| base of the signal post at Takoma, but
| did not see light displayed at the top.
| Hiidehrand could not remember having
made such a statement. The witness was