The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-30
Butler County Official Com
pIeted His Probe Last Night
Of the Panhandle Tragedy
At CoIIinsviIIe, Ohio.
PROSECUTION HINGES
ON RESULT OF QUIZ
Testimony Given Yesterday by
Railroad Detective Burns in
Contradiction to Decision of
Railroad Probe.
palladium Specially


Hamilton, O., Oct. 3O.-Coroner Bur
nett last night concluded his inquest in
the cases of the six men killed in the
wreck of the Chicago-Cincinnati Elk
press train, No. IS, at Collinsville, or
the evening of October ~. 1t is prob
able that the verdict fixing the respon
sibility for the disaster, will be an
nounced next Wednesday.
On the finding of the coroner de-
pends largely the question whether
criminal prosecution will resul,
against the person found to have caus
ed the disaster.
More than twenty witnesses. for the
most part Pennsylvania trainmen
were examined by the Coroner during
the day, and Trainmaster O. V. Porter
of Pennsylvania lines, sat by his side
during the entire proceeding.
|. j. Haller, Of Richmond, Ind, who
was the rear brakeman on freight train
No 81, that had left the Collinsville
siding shortly before freight train No
Is entered 1t from the other end, was
the most important witness of the aft
ernoon. Haller testified that he closed
the switch after his train had passed
through it. John Williamson, farm
er of Collinsville, testified that his wife
had told him that she saw a man close
the switch after train No. 81 had gone
out.
Testimony Of Mcdonald.
Before Haller took the stand Ralph
Mcdonald. of Richmond, head brake
man of freight No. 75, testified that he
had not touched the switch after his
train entered from the other end. But
f. S. Johnson, the Collinsville station
agent on that day. testified that a
brakeman, presumed to be Mcdonald
was standing in the station when No
IS approached, and cried out, my God
l left that switch open.'' The switch
was found to have been unlocked and
the lock- lay on a tie beside the switch
The last witness of the day was J.
man on train No. 81. He testified
that he opened the switch to let his
train out and was positive that he saw
Haller close it, after the train had
passed through.
A large number Of farmers from
Collinsville. who saw the disaster, tes-
titled, but threw little light on the
cause. The bulk of the important
testimony was by trainmen of the
Pennsylvania road, which gave the cor
oner every possible assistance in the
Investigation.
Burns on the Stand.
Isaac F. Burns. Of Richmond, a
special officer for the Pan Handle
testified that the crew of the train
leaving a switch should see that it is
properly closed and it was the, duty
of the back brakeman to look after
this matter while the front brakeman
was the man to open the switch for
his train to come in. This testimony
would seem to impeach the decision
Of the railroad authorities in Rich
mond.
Burns said that an experienced
trainman could not mistake a derail
for switch.
J. w. Hartgrove of Logansport, pas
senger conductor of No. IS, testified
to the efficiency of Engineer Brown OF
the passenger train No. IS. He said
the train was going about fifty miles
an hour when the air was applied. He
was in the rear coach at the time OF
the collision.
Brown 10 Praised.
Philip Ramp. of Logansport. Ind, a
member of the crew of No. IS. said
that he had been in the service for 16
years and had worked with Engineer
Brown for IL years and knew him to
be trustworthy.
Elisha Brown. of Richmond. con-
ductor on freight No. rs. said his
freight was never on time and there
fore he did not know what time they
were due at the Cohinsville switch
He said that no one on his train had
any occasion to look at the switch
and he did not see any of his men GO
near the switch on that afternoon.
He heard No. ISIS danger signal and
after the wreck made an investigation
ond found tho Swifch wac opop