Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-15
KEEP WATCH ON BERNASCO
CONDUCTOR IN ANNAPOLIS
WRECK UNDER SURVEILLANCE
Says He Has Copy of Order That
Will Relieve Him Of Responsible.
ity for Collision.
pecial Disaaich TO The Star.

Special Disaatch to The Star
ANNA.'ULlS. Md. June 15.-What In
regarded as an important move has been
made by the authorities i'm the matter
of the wreck on the Washington. Balti-
moro and Annapolis electric line. Con-
ductor Edward c. Bernasco, who was
in charge of the extra car. having been
placed under surveillance at the Elmer
gency Hospital here. Bernasco escaped
fatal injuries. but ii was necessary 10
place him I'm the hospital for treatment
Deputy Sheriff Smallwood served notice
on Bernasco yesterday that he will be
called on TO answer for the death OF Will
liam J. Norton. one OF nine persons killed
the night Of May %.
The condition OF Bernasco has i'm
proved very much since he reached
the hospital and he will probably ne
and George Wadsworth. his :notorman.
are regarded as the most important wit
nesses to be examined. and il is the de-
sire of Coroner Davis TO have them I'm
Wadsworth. who jumped from the car
and escaped with only an injury to his
ankle. has gone from Washington TO his
home. Cuyahoga Falls. Ohio. leaving word
that he will return next week. if wanted.
Says Responsibility Is Elsewhere.
The action OF the authorities in placing
Bernasco under surveillance yesterday. IL
Is thought. may result in his refusing
to testify when the inquest is resumed.
although the injured man has SO frankly
stated his position that, he says. he has
nothing to fear. He declares he has the
copy Of an order given him the night
of May %. when he was running extra,
which order, he says. will place the re-
sponsibility on persons other than his
motorman and himself. 1t directed the
extra to sidetrack at Best Gate. he de-
clares. and not at Camp Parole. as has
been claimed. Wadsworth also declared
his orders were to take the siding at
Best Gate. but that the regular car from
Baltimore struck them before they
reached the siding.
1t is stated that wadsworth left his
days after the wreck. returning to Ohio
with his wife and child. He left word
with the family of r. f. Belt, where he
boarded. that he was going to Ohio and
that he would return to Annapolis any
time he was wanted there.
Wadsworth Ready to Return.
The victims OF the wreck who were taken
to the hospital are gradually improving
and it is expected that all will be dis
charged from the institution this week.
Information received from Baltimore is
10 Inc erect mat william Il. sSlauRnter,
general traffic manager for the electric
line, is much better and that he Will prob
ably be able to return to duty In a few
weeks.
With the production OF orders directing
them to take the siding at Best Gate, Mo-
torman Wadsworth and Conductor Ber-
nasco will be able to change the general
aspect of the case. their friends say. Be-
fore leaving Academy Junction the night
of the wreck Wadsworth declared he had
been given orders to take the siding at
Best Gate and not at Camp Parole.
Additional witnesses have been sum-
moned to attend the hearing next Mon
day. Coroner Davis will not conclude the
inquest until testimony is given which will
definitely fix the responsibility for the ac-
cident. 1t Is his desire to have Motorman
Wadsworth here to give his version of the
affair. realizing that his written order. IL
he has one, will be of material assistance
to the jurors i'm their efforts to put the
blame where il properly belongs.
Motorman Wadsworth WAS regarded by
the officials of the company as one of it's
best men. He had been employed on
high-speed lines with single tracks.