The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-24
.GR00VEO RAIL IS
. DAN GEn0Us, SAYS
M0T0RMAN
INQUEST OVER MlohioAN-AvE.
WRECK VICTIMS 10 sgouN BE.
FORK OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
EMIT SAYS TRACK Wac o. X.

The inquest into the wreck OF Ann
Arbor car No. 10, which LEI. the track
near Michigan-Avo.. and Thirty.hrstst.,
ON March a., causing the death OF
Michael Rookowak, OF No. 1853 Look
wood-ave.. and John J. aiermann. OF
Carleton. Mich. began before Coroner
Morgan Parker Friday morning. The
investigation was conducted by Pros
eouting Attorney James A. Robson,
while Attorney Stewart Van De Mark
represented the d. u. r. Associated
with Mr.. Robson IL Prof. H. r. Riggs
of Toledo, one OF the leading authori.
ties In the country on railway mat
ters. and who was associated with
Prof. Cooley. OF the U. Of M. In ap'
pralsing the values or the railways IN
the United States.
After the death OF the victims had
been proven by DIR. Stewart Hamilton,
Louis Miller. notorman OF the Inflated
car. was called to the stand. Before
Miller's examination had proceeded
very far, and while he was being
questioned as to the speed OF the
car, It came out that the city ordin
ances governing the speed OF cars
within the limits Is practically worth
less, because OF the Insertion OF the
word average" The ordinance reads
From and after the date OF the APP
prevail OF this ordinance no car run
ming over the lines OF any street rail
way company In Detroit. within the
three mile circle. shall run at great
or speed than an average OF 10 miles
per hour for the whole length OF any
route within the said circle. or at a
greater speed than an average OF 10
miles per hour for the whole length OF
any route lying outside the three-miie
circle
II was pointed out that this allowed
the cars TO run at any speed desired
80 long as part of the journey was
suficiently slow TO bring the average
down To 10 or is miles per hour. Mo
torman Miller testified that he had
maintained the average of 10 miles
though atethe time of the accident he
did not know how fast he was going
In his opening statement Prosecutor
Robson said he expected to show
that the car was going more than Sc
miles per hour.
What is your opinion OF the groov
ed rail?" Miller was asked.
II consider them dangerous" he
answered promptly.
I'm what condition are the tracks
In your -opinions2"
Il consider that they are In q rank
condition all over the city"
The motorman said that only q sec
ond elapsed from the time tbs
car left the rails unfit II GRABBED into
the store. When 1t was pointed out
that the distance was more than q
hundred feet, and that II his state
ment was correct the car must have
been going 60 miles per hour, he
changed his testimony and said II
must have been at least Ave seconds
Track superintendent John Kerwtn
was unable to account for the car
leaving the rails. He stated that the
rails were all right, and should be
good for several years yet. He stated
that from an investigation made by
the company he believed the car start.
ed TO leave the rails at Junction-ave.
ran for long distance with the
wheels of one truck outside the
groove. and that slight depression
at Thirty-frstst. caused the car to
leave the rails entirely.
The investigation IL likely to take
several days.
The jury is composed OF Charles
Forbes. j., A. Smith, John Pontius
Sidney Turner, George Burkhart and
A. A. Brown.