Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-03
In Death Of Harold Martin
Re-opened Monday.
Review AT Winthrop Of the Dud-
|ey's Crossing Accident.
Adjournment Taken Until Monday,
Nov. 80 At Winthrop.

Of Harold Martin, who was killed at
| Dudleys crossing, Oct. 10, as the re-
suit of his teams being struck by a
car OF the Winthrop line of the L.. A.
& w. Street Railway, was held at the
Winthrop Town hall Monday, being
conducted by Coroner Henry w. Plum
mer of Augusta.
| The witnesses examined were Archie
Norcross, a civil engineer, who took
the measurements and drew The plan OF
The scene of the accident; Superinten-
dent L. T. Taylor of the L., w. & \.
st. Ry.; Conductor Herbert S. Spear
and Motorman Joseph 0. King of Car
No. 81 on Oct. 10; Alfred DuIac, mo-
torman who was off duty but was
aboard the car; and Dana H. Dudley,
John Dudley, William Y. Ballard, and
Fred y. Jackson, who were eye wit
nesses to The accident. The railroad
lnen testified regarding the partial
stopping of the car two trolley poles
from the crossing, and said that the
speed was about six miles an hour at
| the time of the accident. The gong
had been kept ringing down the grade
before reaching the crossing. Conduc-
tor Spear had changed places with Mo-
torman King at the latter's request,
and Motorman King testified on the
stand that it was owing to his own
illness. Those witnesses not on the car
set the speed of the car at q figure
varying from 20 to 30 miles an hour,
and no one heard a gong ring, nor did
| they see the car stop until it reached
a point about 200 feet beyond the cross
| ing after the collision.
The cOroners jury consists Of c. l.
Bailey, r. G. McIlroy. Fred j. Hewins,
f. H. Penniman, Herbert f. Wads-
worth. G.. w. Bates. County Attorney
elect Guy A. Hildreth of Gardiner was
present for the State, While Hon. H.
NJ. Heath of Augusta appeared fer the
L.. A. & w. St. Ry
James A. Stewart, Harold Martins
companion on the fatal ride when the
latter met his death could not be moved
from the Augusta City hospital, anu
adjournment was taken until Nov. 81
to hear his testimony.
Owing to the absence of the county
attorney the inquest, which was called
for 10 o'clock in the forenoon, was post
poned to 1 p. NJ.
At that hour, County Attorney elect
Guy A. Hildreth of Gardiner having
arrived, Coroner H. W. Plummer call.
ed the inquest to order.
Archie Norcross, civil engineer, was
the first witness called. A plan Of the
locality at Dudley's crossing was
placed in evidence one which the wit
ress had made subsequent to the acct
dent. Tbs witness explained the plan
/ u Co
Travelled way to where the remains OF
the wagon We're found Martins body
was found 81 feet and 1 inch from the
center of the highway. 1t was 70 feet
| 6 inches in the highway to the point
of the best line of vision This line Of
vision intersected the track 154 feet
southerly. 1t was Sc feet down the |
track to the first trolley pole, measur-
ing from the center of the highway.
The line of vision along the high |
way where the track could be seen
Fast a line of bushes was $50 feet from
the center of the highway The dis |
lance from the southern boundary OF
the highway to the sign marked "stop" |
was ~ feet The grade was 1872 per
cent, or about l foot 10 inches drop in
100 feet. Between the ice house and
shop the space is 10 feet inches.
Superintendent l.. F. Taylor OF tn.
A.. l.. Y w. st. Ry. testified regarding
t he instructions given to motOrmen a.
to stopping at crossings. There are
posts set with a stop sign on them al
which IL is intended for car to stop |
He did rot consider it difficult to han
die car on a 1.S2 per cent grade
Both Motorman King and Conductor
Spear had been employed since 1905
A new motOrman is put on with a com
potent notorman to receive instruc-
ton
Questioned by Attorney Heath, tn,
witness said that the stop sign
faced Augusta, and could not be read
from the Winthrop side.
Herbert S. Spear of HalIowell testi-
fed that he was in the employ of the
L., A. u w. Railroad Oct l.. On Oct.
| Is left Augusta on Car No. 81 as con
| ductor
And when the car approach
ed Dudleys crossing" asked Coroner
Flummer who had control of the mo-
tive power of the caro-
II did"
you are not supposed to take that
place unless some emergency comes
up are you" Aasa1.HllH
mo, SIR
"At what rate of speed We're you
running at the tme?"
The usual rate"
How much time have you to make
that time between East Winthrop and
Dudley's crossing?"
The witness could not remember
did YOU stop the car on the grade
| Before you got to Dudley's crossngo"
Yes. SIR
Where did you stop?"
about two poles back
And YOU We're supposed to stop at
the stop sign and not two poles back,
weren't you?"
Yes sir
What did you do when you first
| saw the team?'
Il put the brake on as fast as
could
Did the car control easily that
day?"
Il don't know. I don't know much
| about it,
| 1,xy