The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-26
This Morning, Members of
Freight Train No. 81 Deny
Any Responsibility for the
Open Switch.
OFFICERS REACH NO
DECISION IN NATTER
1t Is Probable That Verdict
Will Not Be Announced for
Several Days - Survivors
Are Witnesses.

~linsville, O., catastrophe which result
ed from a head on collision between
south bound passenger train No. Is
and north bound freight train No. rs.
on a siding, last Friday. was made to-
day by officials of the Richmond divis-
ion of the Pennsylvania road in the
office of Superintendent Nettleton
Neff.
Surviving members Of freight crew
on No. rs and passenger crew No. IS,
as well as the crew of freight rain
No. 81, which train occupied the sid
ing shortly before the accident occur
red, were included among the more
important witnesses. The investiga-
ton was not completed at 9 o'clock
this afternoon and the result conse-
quently is not known.
No Information Given.
At 2 O'Clock this afternoon, Nettle-
ton Neff. division superintendent,
stated that the investigation was pro-
crossing very satisfactorily but that
he could give out no information I'M
til after it was completed. 1t is even
probable that the public will be left
in suspense for another day or so, I'M
til the officials can go over the testi-
mony again before taking final action.
1t has been said that no Official in
formation as to responsibility will be
given out until after the inquest of
Coroner John Burnett of Butler coun-
ty, o., is held, probably tomorrow.
Session This Morning.
At the investigation conducted this
morning by Superintendent Neff, the
members of freight crew No. 81 de-
MED that they passed out of the Col
linsville switch without closing it af-
ter them. Members Of this crew also,
it is believed, although no official
statement has been given out, exoner-
ated Perry Wright. station agent at
Collinsville. and his assistant, Ed
Johnson, from all responsibility.
Freight train No. 81 occupied the
switch just previous to freight train
No. Is, which was in the terrible &C,
cident. Freight No. 81 took the siding
in order to allow a south bound pas
senger to pass. The freight train
pulled out Immediately after the pas,
senger passed and members of the
crew, 1t is said. stated at the investi-
cation that they closed the self lock.
ing switch after passing out.
The crew on freight No. 81 includes
Will Reece, conductor; Charles Suren-
dorf, engineer; /. j. Hollar. flagman;
j.. w. Lucas. head brakeman, and Mr.,
Mcmillan, fireman, all of whom live in
this city. After pulling out on the
main track, the train was stopped and
the switch closed, according to mem
bers Of the crew. The freight con
tinred north for a few miles and too.
the siding to allow passenger No. IS t.
pass. Within ten minutes after tn
catastrophe. freight 81 pulled back &c
Collinsville, and one of the members
of the crew stated that they inspected
the switch carefully 70 see whether
anything was wrong with it, which
they had nc noticed. 1t was found ir
good working order and had no defects
so far as they could ascertain.
1t Is Self Locking.
One of the crew was asked whether
any n could have turned the switch
without the aid of a key. He replied
that this. like all main line switches
is self locking and a not be opened
without a key. He a that the onl,
persons who have keys to the switch
are employees of the company. Thu
suggestion that possibly some ont
threw the switch with revenge as {
motive. was secuted by one of the
members of the crew as absurd. Still
no explanation is offered as to whc
opened the switch or for what purpos,
it was pen
Perry Wright. the station agent 4
Collinsville has never been in the hab
it of opening or closing the switch fol
No. 81, according to a member Of thi.
crew. Occasionally a station agen
opens or closes a switch when the trair
is behind time. but as a rule. all con
ductors stop the train to see that tn.
agent carries out his duties in a propel
manner.