Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-05

sent victims of the accident. No attorney
for the road was present.
Supt. J. r. T. Garrett was the first wit
ness to testify. He stated that he had
been superintendent for nine years: that
he controlled about twenty-five miles Of
track all of the lines being single track.
He was in general charge of the running
of the cars, the maintenance of the road
and acted as car starter. he stated. We'd
nesday morning he started passenger car.
in charge of Motorman Robert Crack and
Conductor Morgan, from Rosslyn at S::Ei
O'Clock, and ordered MOtorman George
Downs. with freight train with rails. to
follow the passenger train to Vietch's Sum-
nit, beyond Clarendon.
No Telephone at Clarendon.
Mr.. Garrett testified that he told Motor
man Downs to tell Motorman Crack and
Conductor Morgan that he was to follow
them to Vietch's Summit. Supt Garrett
testified that he did not tell the latter per
sonally, but left 1t to Motorman Downs.
The instructions were entirely verbal, he
stated. and 1t was customary to give orders
verbally. The witness stated that there
was no telegraph line along the road but
that there was a Telephone line, which con-
nected with some stations
Was there any telephone message sent
to Clarendon to hold Mocks car until the
freight train passed." asked Mr. Mackey
There is no telephone at Clarendon, re-
piled the superintendent.
You depended on Downs telling Crack
and his telling Mock. them queried the
commemorative attorney.
Yes. sir" stated the witness.
With carload of passengers depending
on the delivery of that order, don't you re-
gard that as unsafe?"
Il thought it was perfectly safe" stated
the superintendent
Don't you know that the man depended
on to give that order is harassed by pas
sengers asking questions. that he might
forget the orders?' was asked
Il don't know about that" replied the
witness.
Since this accident, don't you think the
system unSafe?'
1t would seem So answered the wit
ness.
Code of Finger Signals.
The witness was next questioned about a
system said to be in vogue on the line, by
which the crew of one car held I'D one or
two fingers to let the crew of a passing car
know that there We're one or two cars be-
hind them to wait for; and the witness
stated that he knew the system was used
and he did not regard ii unsafe, he said
The schedule of the railroad was next put
In evidence, and the witness stated that all
the schedules We're made up by President
c. R. Hinchman, who lives in Philadelphia
Does he visit the line?" the superin-
tendent asked
1t was brought out later in the eXamna-
ton of the witness that new schedule ar
ranged by President HiEchman in Phladel-
phia and put into effect about three. weeks
ago was found to be impracticable and was
tried only a few days. Another new sched-
ule was put into effect last Sunday, 1t was
testified, and the Dad was being operated
on that when the accident happened. The
cars which passed at Clarendon, just pre-
vious to the accident, were each about forty
minutes late.
Mr.. Garrett was asked if the conductor
or motorman of any cars were required I'M
der the regulations of the company to call
at the office before starting and get or
ders; and he replied that they We're not
How are special orders given, them"
was asked
If 1 am on the ground l give the order:
otherwise. the order s given to the man
on the work train to deliver
Mock had a right to suppose that the
track was clear of any working train UNI
less notihed? was asked by Attorney Mon
cure.
He had no reason to think the work
train was on the track stated the super
intendent. 1t was no fault of Mock's'
Blamed, But Not Discharged.
The next statement of the witness brought
out the fact that. although Crack and Nor
gan were held by Superintendent Garrett to
be responsible for the accident, they were
working as usual Wednesday afternoon and
yesterday.
Clarendon as a junction and passing
point. is an important station now. isn't
it?" was asked the witness by Attorney
Mackey-
Yes
why then is there no telephone at Clar-
endon?"
Because there is no one there to attend
TO Il"
Couldn't you put a man there to attend
TO IL, il you paid him a salary" asked Mr.
Mackey.
Yes" stated the superintendent.
Whose fault Is 1t that man has not
been put there?'
Il don't know, but it is not my fault"
The examination of the report of the
conductor of the Inflated car. submitted
In evidence. was used to throw light on the
methods of the company. The report was
marked for motor N" and yet the SUI
| perintendent admitted that the report was
| for fares collected on car IS" The crew
| had been changed from one car to another,
i but the report was not changed. The re-
| port indicated fifty passengers.
Ordered No Warning.
p, George Downs of West Falls Church, mo-
| torman of the freight train with which the
| passenger car conided. was the next wilt
| ness. He testified that he was told by Supt
| Garrett to notify Motorman Crack and
| Conductor Morgan before they left Rosslyn
| for Clarendon that the freight train would
| follow them to Vietch's Summit He stated
| that Supt. Garrett did not tell him to tell
| Motorman Crack and Conductor Morgan
| that they were to tell Motorman Mock at
Clarendon to wait for the freight train to