The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-14

Apparently forsaken by the Con- necticut Co., and held in bail of S3.- 900 on a manslaughter charge, Mo- tormAn Louis Peterson, arrested yes terday and held in custody by State Policeman Rowe H. Wheeler of Strat- ford in default of bail. waited vainly all morning for news of activity in the legal department of the trolley company to which, he had been in- formed. the matter of providing him with legal assistance, and furnishing bond for his release, has been re- ferred.
 Peterson expresses confidence that ultimately he will not be held re- sponsible for the death of Mrs. Jessi- ca Saunders, who died shortly after Stuyvesant Peabody's automobile was run down by the motorman's car in Stratford, just before midnight Thursday. Mrs. Saunders was one of a party of four, in the machine. The others were Peabody and B. c. Thompson. both Yale seniors. and Miss Lillian Forster. The latter is the daughter of Mrs. Jessie H. For ster, proprietress of the Milford Inn, from which the disastrous joy ride started.
 Peterson rehearsed the circuln- stances of the fatal accident to a Farmer reporter. T left Bridgeport on time," said he. 'I had been working about eight hours, and this was my last run out. had 19 min Bridgeport. That is the regular run ming time of this part of the run. If traffic is heavy you have ' to make the run pretty fast in certain spots.
 Before you get to Beardsley street is a curve in the road. On account - ph dr1'r bear down on the spot where the automobile was standing as we drew near. But when we came into line with the automobile, could see the conditions distinctly.
 Peabody had one hand on tfe steering wheel and the other on tie lever. He looked back over his shoulder. I shut off power threw over the reverse lever then put or, power: The car slipped ahead. for the wheels were spinning
 'aThis Is just the place where auto mobiles and team cross the trolley tracks to- get into Beardsley street. There was . good deal of snow by the roadside. I suppose some of this had been thrown on the rails, and made them slippery.
 T thought the man would get clear of the tracks, but he didn't Then the crash came.
 "How Peabody got his car in such a position as 1t stood I can't under stand. The car should have been heading toVerds Beardsley street. if But 1t was headed in the other direc- ton. to the right instead of to the left. whether the car was still in motion, backing up. or was standing still on the tracks when hit 1t, I can't say.
 Peabody had certainly been drink ing I won't attempt to say whether tc riO Oh in vii hc Peabody was able to run his automo- bile. But I do know this: if Peabody had acted as quickly as I did. he would have cleared the tracks. The machine overhung the track only a little bit, and 1t required just little motion of had his hand on the wheel and on the lever when my headlight fell on him I don't understand why he wasn't able to get clear"
 Peterson appears to be very conscien- tious about his statement of the mis- hap. He will not say that Peabody ad Rut tSere is say go anes tion at all about his having had some trink It seems to me that he didn t have got his car out of the way"
 Peterson is still hopeful that the Con- necticut Company will come to his aid. They tell me it's in the hands of the legal department" said he. "I don't know what they propose to do. It fix. Pm a stranger In this part of the State. I've lived in Bridgeport only five months. boarding at 153 Col den Hill street. I came here from New Haven. I haven't any lawyer. and I don't know who to get. I'm do for me- The company expects us to make time. aud to take chances for them. don't think they can afford 10 leave their men like this when &C., cidents do happen"
 Peterson was taken into custody yes ferdav by State Policeman Rowe H. Wheeler. Wheeler expected. as did the Stratford authorities-Justice Da- vid l.. Rhoades who issued the war rant charging manslaughter. and Judge Peck before whom the case is to be heard-that the trolley company would at once furnish bail for the r'o- torman. But Wheeler waited with out result and last evening when no steps had been taken to provide bail for the prisoner. Wheeler was about to lodge the prisoner in the Stratford lookup.
 The little town. Iaw-abiding as it is doesn't provide all the comforts of home fin is miniature jail. brick and concrete one story affair in the shade of the town hall. It is like an ice bO& w WHGtiEI Hdut tli6 HCdtt NO thrust his prisoner into the frigid lit- fle structure. He took Peterson into his own home. and made him comfort able for the night. Today Peterson waited at the Wheeler home for the hearing before Judge Peck in the town hall at o'clock
 Coroner Wilson heard only five witnesses" said Peterson today. There were only two outside of those directly Interested. They were John Moon and Mrs. Mary c. Wright. They live right near the scene of the accident. The