The Washington herald., 1908-06-23
- 70 rhe wa.hIngton Hernld.

Special 20 The Washington Herald
Annapolis. Nd. June 22-Negligence on
the part Of Edward Bernasco and George
Wadsworth, conductor and motorman, re-
spectively. Of the extra car that left
Annapolis. in accepting a defaced order
and in not taking precaution 10 clear
the regular ear by five minutes, accord
ing TO regulations, negligence and igno-
rance OF Train Dispatcher Carson Schu-
macker. at Annapolis, in issuing the de-
faced order contrary 10 rules. and negli-
gence IN the movement OF trains IN gen
eral are the reasons assigned for the
fatal wreck on the Washington. Balti-
more and Annapolis Electric Railway
near this city on June last, by the
coroncrs jury which has been investigat-
ing the matter for the last two weeks.
The jury arrived at this verdict after
celebrating more than three hours, and a
two hours session previous to that, dur
ing which much additional testimony was
adduced.
BernnscO Alone Held.
Although the jury places the response
biity upon Bernaco and Wadsworth
and Schumacher. tho latter because Of
negligence IN issuing the defaced order
neither OF them is held for criminal
negligence, and the only arrest thus far
is that Of Bernasco, against whom the
State instituted proceedings about ten
days ago. when Wadsworth. the motor
man, disappeared from his home in Wash
ington.
Bernasco. it is expected. will be for
mally arraigned before police justice,
bail fixed. and held for the October grand
jury of Anne Arundel County.
Testimony Was Conflicting.
Although there was much conflict of
testimony about certain phases OF the in
vestigation. the whole matter narrowed
down to the orders given the crew OF the
extra car. 1t left Annapolis at 1880
O'Clock, as admitted by Bernasco. and
had the crew complied with instructions,
there was ample time 10 reach Camp
Parole siding a run Of three miles. and
then clear the regular car by five min
Utes. as required under regulations, as
the collision. from The best information
gathered, occurred about 7:3S or 7:40.
The jury was anxious 90 hear the tes-
timony OF Afotorman Wadsworth. but ef-
forts 10 locate him failed.
AT lo-Qays nearing particular interest
centered in the testimony Of Bernasco,
who. with Wadsworth. the majority of
people have been inclined TO blame for
the wreck.
Tilt Between Jurymen.
During the course Of the hearing there
was a slight tilt OF words between Fore
man Harry T. Levely and Mr.. Charles
Wernbe. OF the Jury. as 10 the method OF
questioning the witnesses, and no little
interest was created when the question
OF veracity between the witnesses several
times presented itself This arose princi-
pally through statements made by Ber-
nasco TO the effect that he had been
given verbal Instructions by Train Dis
patcher SchOtL and Schumacher, in
direct violation OF regulations, and once
the jury brought both Bernasco and
Schumacher face 10 face before them.
In the face OF the statement by Ber-
nascO, Schumacher entered an emphatic
denial. Much Of the testimony was con-
fiicting. and among other things, tended
20 show that members of the train crews
were inexperienced IN the handling OF
high speed cars on single track railways
and that their previous experience was
principally IN the operation Of trolley
cars In the city on double track railways