The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-07
MOtOrman sc. KnOWltOn Breaks
Down at Hearing.
He TELLS HIS STORY,
Karr Is Star Witness for the
County at Inquest Today.
Those Called to Stand Declare
Killing an Accident.

eve, the jury duly empanelled and
sworn, do find upon our oaths that
William Longaker came 70 his death
by being run over by a street car near
the corner of Sixth and Van Buren,
streets and further find that said
death was accidental, unavoidable and
that neither the Topeka Street Rail-
way company, its motorman nor any
others of it's employees were to blame.
signed: w. w. Webb foreman; !.
B. Nicholson, E. B. Stotts, G. W. Dal-
ley, Ad Slusher, F. L. Whitaker.
IF it had been my own father or
my mother. 1 would have done the
same. L did all in my power to stop
the car and 1 couldn't help it,
Such was the plea of Motorman G.
c. knowlton this morning to the attor-
neys at the inquest into the death OF
William Longaker. who met death un-
der his car at the corner Cf Sixth and
Van Buren, streets Wednesday morn
ing. Knowlton, nervous wreck since
the accident, had been crying in the
court room and broke into sobs on the
witness stand when pressed by his
questioners.
Knowlton on Stand.
Motorman Knowlton's home is at
Valley Falls, where his parents live. He
is "a years old and single. He had
never run street car until six weeks
previous to the accident.
How long have you operated
Gar dSheu Attorney bOl1HS61-
six weeks
"How long did you run without an
experienced guide"
almost six weeks
s'How fast were you running
Wednesday morning. just before you
struck Mr.. Longaker?'
From 10 to IL miles an hour
How do you know"
Il don't think 1 was going faster.
I always throw the current off at Harri-
son street to come down the hill, and
put the brakes on
Did you have any current on at any
time past Harrison street ?"
Il reversed the motor at the east side
of Van, Buren,
How near were you then to the old
man?'
About l. feet"
why did you reverse the motor?"
Il was afraid he would try to cross
the track"
Did Not Sound Gong.
Did you ring the gong?"
Il did rot have time
You reversed but did not have time
time?"
NO, sir"
How far were you. from the crossing
when the man started TO get off the
wagon?
How far was the man from the
cressipo?"
Fifteen feet. 1 guess
Now how do you explain that your
car went clear down to the alley from
Van Buren, street with the power re-
versed?"
Down grade. that's an"
Now a matter of fact weren't you
so frightened you couldn't do anything
and never did reverse the motor any
more than you rang the gong?"
II frightened bI1t 7 reversed the
motor. did everything 1 could do said
the witness.
c. L. Ransdall, conductor of the car.
said he knew the current had been thrown
at Harrison street. and the current re-
versed al Van Buren, street He thought
the impact of the car against the victim
took place at the same time the reversed
current took effect He said the car was
on time and that the motorman was run
denied that conductors object to new men
at the front end of their cars.
Kerr Is Star Witness.
The star witness in the inquest was Earl
Tor shop in front of which the accident
occurred. He said he was but eight feet
from the wagon on which William Long
aker was riding. Three men were in the
seat of the farm wagon he said and the
horses were at a walk when the wagon
halted and Longaker got down and start
back to the coming car and was talking
to the men in the wagon and had just
turned to stop when he saw the car and
apparently became paralyzed.
The old soldier was ground to pieces.
First he was dashed against the head
light. demolishing the glass but as he
fell to the fender he rolled off, was caught
under the wheels, ground round and
round and elected at the rear where the
conductor first saw him as the car slid
past.
DR.. ]. NJ. Amis who had been called,
described the condition OF the the dead fdo nan
open, said the doctor.