Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-20
CREW Of TRAIN
AGREE ON STORY
Startling Testimony in Terra
Gotta Wreck Trial.
TO PUT BLAME ON DUTR0W
Question of Signal Shown at Silver
Spring in Issue.
CONTENTION OF PROSECUTION
TO PUT BLAME ON DUTROW
CONTENTION OF PROSECUTION
Two Assistants of United States At.
torney Tell of Admission by
Engineer Vermillion.

Collusion between the crews of
the trains wrecked at Terra Gotta,
in order to throw the blame for
the disaster and the blood-guilti-
ness for the deaths of about forty
persons on Operator Dutrow, was
charged today in testimony given
by Assistant United States Attor-
neys Given and Proctor, who de-
posed that Engineer Vermillion
had made such an admission to
them. According to this alleged
confession, the crews met after
the accident and agreed to declare
that a double green" signal had
been shown at Silver Spring. Dut-
row and his helper have sworn
that white light was shown to
each train.
Startling disclosures were made in the
continuation of the trial of Engineer
Hildebrand, Conductor Hoffmeier, Fire
man McClelland and Brakeman Rutter
before Justice Stafford in Criminal Court
No. 1 today on the charge of manslaugh-
ter for causing the deaths of about two
score persons in the wreck at Terra Gotta,
D. c., December so last, when Assistant
United States Attorneys Given and Proc.
tor appeared on the witness stand in
turn and declared that Engineer Vermil-
lion, who was in charge of the wrecked
Frederick local. had admitted to them
that the crews of both trains got together
after the accident and agreed to tell SINH
lar stories, obviously in an effort to cast
the blame for the collision upon Operator
Dutrow, who was in charge of the block
signal tower at Silver Spring.
All of the members of both train crews.
who testified before the coroner's jury on
the point last January, declared that a
double green signal was shown at Sill
yer Spring. Dutrow and John Trundle,
an aged man, who acted as helper about
the Silver Spring station, stood practically
alone in supporting the formers state
ment that each train received white
target.
The testimony of the two government
attorneys served as a veritable bombshell.
terminating the case presented in rebuttal
by United States Attorney Baker this
afternoon. The defense rested at 1918
o'clock this morning, after Engineer
Hildebrand and Baggagemaster Norris of
the crew of train 2120 had been recalled
to the stand to correct their previously
given testimony in minor particulars.
Il is probable that the surrebuttal of
the defense will be concluded before the
termination of the session of court this
afternoon.
Defense Begins Rebuttal.
Engineer Hildebrand was recalled to the
stand for moment to correct statement
made in his cross-examination yesterday.
He had said it was the custom to blow
the engine whistle in answer to signal
only when the engineer actually saw a
target shifted from red to white, or red
to green. In making the correction Hide
brand declared 1t was customary to blow
one long and one short blast of the whistle
upon receiving a white target, whether
an actual change in the signal was seen
or not.
Baggage Master Norris, another member
of the train crew. was also recalled, and
he declared he was standing on the plat
form of the first coach behind the engine
at Boyds. Witness said he made an
effort to grab a piece of paper held out
by the operator at that station. He as
sumed the paper was clearance card or
blank b. and when he failed to grasp
it he called:
How is it. Billy" and he quoted the
operator as answe ring, .All right" and
as waving the train ahead with white
lantern.
Cross-examining Norris. United States
Attorney Baker referred to Norris form
er testimony and directed attention to the
fact that the witness then said he did not
see the clearance card at Boyds.
The defense closed its case at 1910
o'clock and the government Immediately
entered upon it's rebuttal.
John c. Austin, operator at Boyos, res
titled he was in charge of the station De
cember 80, 1906. He heard 2l20 whistle
for the block and went out on the plat
form with two clearance cards. one for
the conductor and one for the engineer or
the train. A man standing on the step
of the engine grabbed for one clearance
card Austin said. but missed II and 1t
was blown down the track. Another man
reaching from a window Of one OF the
rear cars of the train tried to get the
other "blank b. but also failed. Austin
did not know what became of that card.
Speed of the Extra.
How fast was the extra runnins?"
Mr. Baker questioned.
"Thirty-five miles an hour" Austin
said
The same question was asked OF John
Williams. agent and operator at Boyds,
who also happened to be at that station
when 212O passed. He estimated the
speed to have been thirty-five to forty
miles an hour.
Policeman J. p Kennedy, recalled, was
asked:
when on the way down the track from
Takoma toward the wreck did you meet
Flagman Rutter. and did you ask him.
Why did you pass the red target at
Takoma'?"
'I did" Kennedy answered.
"And did he say, The light was white
when I saw it %
HE did
And did you further say TO him, I'll
be d il you saw it then?'
II did
Rutter had denied such conversation.
Another conversation to which Engineer
Hildebrand had made denial was read
into the evidence with the testimony or
Policeman John E. Lightfoot. The latter
was on duty at No. 10 police station the
night of the wreck. and for time was
In charge of the train crew after they
had been arrested.
did you ask Engineer Hildebrand on
hat occasion what signal he receives