Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-29
GILBERT INQUEST.
Jury Adjourns to Meet At
WaterviNe Today.
Took Out Evidence In The Case
From Five Witnesses.
Edward J. Stevens, Only Eye Wit.
ness Of the Fatal Accident.

The coroner's jury consisting OF
Henry A. Heath. Charles Il. Murphy
Warren S. Malcolm, John Coughlin
Nathan Weston and Anne C2SaVart,
summoned by Coroner Henry w.
Plummcr to pass upon the death Of
Peter Gilbert as the result Of an acct
dent in the NVaterville yards of the
Maine Central Railroad Friday, Jan. "a,
held an inquest at the Kennebec county
court house Monday morning. Charles
F. Johnson of WatCrville was present
to look after the interests OF the cor
poration and County Attorney Fred
Emery Beane of HallOweil represented
the State. The jury reached no deci-
sion, but adjourned to meet at noon
today in Watervillc.
The first witness to be called was
Edward j. Stevens, q section foreman,
who witnessed the accident He testi-
fled that tie men of the crew in which
Gilbert worked We're putting in q
switch near the point where the acct
dent took place. He said that Gilbert
appeared to try to jump to safety when
the tender struck him, but slipped and
fell under the trucks. the first pair of
which passed over him. The injured
man was placed urOn Il hand car ana
car ried to the baggage room where he
vas treated by Il physician and aftcr-
ward placed on train for Augusta.
The witness said that there is a space
Of seven feet between the track upon
which Gilbert was working and the
track upon which he was hurt and
that there was plenty of room for him
to have passed in safety. The train
carried him about 60 feet. The tender
which struck him was attached to q
spare engine and was on it's way to the
shop for repairs. Mr.. Stevens was re-
called twice and drew a diagram show
ing the location OF the accident.
Paul Nadeau nf Waterville, assistant
under Mr.. Stevens, was the next wit
ness. His testimony tailed with that
IF Mr.. Stevens in the main. Attorney
Beanc asked him if he heard any bell
of warning, and he answered that he
did not. On being recalled Mr.. Stevens
said that he did not hear any bell
either. 1T is customary to ring the
bell in such a place. is it not asked
t.Ir. Beanc. Yes. but We hear so many
bells that we don't notice them half
the time was the reply. 1t developed
that Gilbert had worked in the yard
about two months previous to the acct
dent, and before that. in the shops.
Charles s. Pratt. the engineer of tho
engine to which was attached TIL"
tender which ran over Gilbert. was the
next witness. He did not seem to have
- very clear conception of just whore
nr how the accident happened. His
engine was going about three or four
miles an hour. ~ said The witness
testified that he did not see Gilbert or
any of the rest Of the crew before the
accident. Under the rules of the road
here was no reason for ringing the bell
ut that point. but the witness would
nave done SO had he known that there
were any men working there. The wit
ness stated that he was in position
to have seen anyone. if they had been
on his track. except as the height of the
tank shut off the view.
Ralph A. Allen of Fairfield, the fire
man for Mr.. Pratt and DR.. Percy s.
Merrill of Waterville were also called.
The fireman stated that he had only
been in the employ Of the Maine Cen
trail since Jan. Il. but that he knew
the duties Of a fireman. He did not see
he accident DR.. Merrill described the
injuries OF the man and said that
death was due 10 shock and the loss
of blood. Gilbert made no statement to
him in regard to the accident.