Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-25
BOTH SIDES TAKE APPEAL
Conductor Violet and Engineer
Latin Fined $40 Each.
KREMER COUNTY REGISTRAR
Civic Improvement League Wants
to Grow in Membership and
Influence for Clean City.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

After examining fourteen witnesses
which consumed nearly two hours. Justice
L. H. Thompson in the police court yes
terday afternoon held that the crew OF
the Washington, Alexandria and MOUNT
Vernon Electric Railway Company ana
the crew of the Southern railway locomo-
tive were both responsible for the COL
lision at Cameron and Henry streets
September 8.
He fined c. r. Violet, conductor of the
electric train, and George T. Latin, en-
rineer of the locomotive, SO each. Coun-
sci for both railway companies noted an
appeal.
The case will now be carried TO the
corporation court for final settlement. 1t
will probably be heard at the December
term.
According to the testimony of {. l.
Goods chief of police, he saw the en-
CINE before the crash. and 1t was traV-
cling at from three to five miles an hour
The bell was ringing and the engine was
running backward, a red light displayed
on the front end of the tender.
Policeman John F. Sampson was stand
ing on the rear of the trailer. having
boarded the car at King and Pitt streets
He heard the bell of the engine ringing:
The train he said, stopped about one-half
minute at the crossing. He hearu
some one on the platform cry to jump,
but before he had time the crash came
and he was thrown to the ground.
Witness said he later secured the names
of the crews of both trains. Subsequently
he was compelled to go home
The testimony of c. r. Violet. con-
ductor of the electric train, was to the
effect that his train stopped at the cross
ing. being tagged by his trolleyman. The
collision. he said, threw the rear truck
of the trailer from the tracks.
IN fhn vIyffn
was less than half a square away from
him when he saw it. he being on the
front platform of the rear car. Wltness
also added that the locomotive was traV-
cling at between eight and ten miles an
hour.
Trolleyman R. C. Carter testified to
having tagged the train from the center
of the Southern Railway Company S
tracks with lantern. Witness ola not
see the engine. but saw a red light. me
light he said, was on the other SIDE OF
King street Witness did not hear any
bell ringing.
Bernard G. Cline. motorman OF the
train, said his train was tagged by the
troIleyman. Witness did not hear any bell
ringing, and when the crash came ne
thought his train had jumped the track.
According to- the testimony OF L. Earl
Croson passenger on the rear PLATFORM.
the bell of the locomotive was ringing and
there was a red light. He jumped just as
the crash came.
William A Royster, a youth. saw the
engine and red light He was OF inc op,,,-
Sidney Kaufman of Washington was
passenger in the front car. He heard the
bell but was unable to tell which way the
engine was coming. The engine, ne said,
appeared to increase It's speed just peioie
the crash.
The testimony of John Bradley, coiofeo,
was that the train stopped witness hearo
no bell.
motive took the stand and testified that
he had a red light on the end of the ten
der and there was no rule governing the
color of light to be used on such engines.
His engine. he said was tra'enmg a' 'ne
rate of four or five miles an hour
When within five six feet of the cleo
trio train his fireman called to him ana
he applied the emergency brakes. witness
said that had the troiieyman $1,000 mia
a light in the center of the track he woulo
have been pretty apt to have seen him.
The testimony of E. s. Crockett, who
was standing at the corner or King ana
Henry streets. a square away, was that
the engine displayed a red light and
that the bell was ringing. The engine
was travelling at between five and six
miles an hour.
The Testimony OF Engineer Latin was
substantiated by Fireman W. l.: Connor'
This witness, in conclusion, said II look
ed like the electric train was endeaVor-
ing to get ahead of the locomotive.
Angus King testified that he was on the
rear platform of the trailer and said:
II hear something after which ne
jumped -. u,,.
Clarence B. McCommer was at KING
and Henry streets at the time. He hearo
the bell ringing and saw red light.
The electric railway company was rep
resented by Attorney James r. Cation
and r. D. Brumback appeared for the
Southern company. The prosecution was
conducted by Commonwealth Attorney
s. G.. Brent.