Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-09
WATERvMLE.
inquest in the
Mrs. Davis Case.


called Rices crossing in Oakland on
last Tuesday afternoon, was held
Thursday morning in this city at the
City building. A large number of witt
nesses were examined. The Maine
Central Railroad was represented by
Carol n. Perkins, Esq. The jury
elected S. L. Berry as foreman, the
others being, L. G. Whipple, Martin
Blaisdell, C. E. Matthews of Water
vile and III. L. Hunton and Frank
Marshall of Oakland. The jury after
the witnesses were examined rendered
a verdict that the said Mrs. Davis
came to her death by being struck by
passenger train No. % and placed no
blame on the company.
AT the opening of the inquest Coro-
ner Frank Redington explained to the
jurors and those present the duties in
volved upon a jury in a coroners in
quest. 1t was their duty to only de-
termine how. when and in what man
ner the person was killed and their
verdict was not to be influenced by
what could be called contributory
negligence. if any was brought out in
the examination.
AS to the conditions of the road or
crossing at that point the jury has
nothing to do with as that matter is
left with the town of Oakland.
The first witness was William r.
Blake. a brother of the deceased, and
with whom she made her home in
Oakland. He stated that on the day in
question that in company with Mrs.
Davis he left the home in a team and
left her to drive the carriage to the
Rice home while he went to Oakland
by foot. He knew nothing of the ac-
cident until he reached Waterville,
coming from Oakland by the eiectrics.
He testified that Mrs. Davis had been
in the habit of driving over the cross
ing many times. Upon being ques-
ton regarding the bell at the cross
ing he replied that he had always
heard it ring when near the crossing
when a train was approaching. While
on his way to Oakland he heard the
train that day whistle for the crossing
just outside of Oakland but did not
hear it whistle for the Rice crossing
He thought of Mrs. Davis when he
heard the train. He considered the
hearing and vision of Mrs. Davis to be
good.
Wallace J. Boothby of Bangor. en-
gineer on Train No. % east. testified
that he had run an engine for q years
and that this was his first accident
The train was on time and was run
ming about 40 miles per hour at the
point where the accident occurred. He
blew the whistle for the Rice crossing
on Tuesday afternoon and the auto
matte bell was ringing. He did not
see the accident as he was on the
wrong side and there is sharp curve
at that point He heard the fireman
shout and he heard the crash and saw
a cloud of dust. The train was stop
ped three car lengths from the cross
ing. He found no marks on the en-
CINE to determine what part of it
struck the team.
George w. Gilman of Bangor, fire.
man on that train, testified that he
was the first to see the team coming
up over the hill. He stated that in
his opinion the woman was evidently
trying to get across the crossing first
and that she was driving rapidly. per-
haps 10 miles an hour. He testified
that the team struck the side of the
engine and it was not the train that
struck the team.
Sylvester Skillings, a section man in
the employ of the Maine Central
whose duty it was to look after the
bell and blocks in that section, testi-
fled he tested the bell at the crossing
about 1925 P. M. He did not see the
accident as he took his handcar about
| three quarters of a mile farther toward
Waterville He learned of the acct
dent about five minutes after the train
had stopped and then gone by him.
He was sure the engine whistle was
given for the crossing. He also test
ed the crossing bell. which rings when
trains approach, after the train had
gone again, and it was in good con-
dition
Andrew H. Rice of Oakland, a broth
er-in-law of the deceased, who lives
about loo rods from the crossing, tes-
titled that he had always considered
| this crossing dangerous and several
| times have caused petitions to be cir
| culated and sent to the railroad off,
Gals and commissioners. He thought
that the danger bell was installed
about three years ago and ne has
heard IL from his home. He was at
hcihN "hOh tiit oSNIdNil- hdPpcutu duu
met the conductor of the train coming
! to his home to telephone to Wateryille.
He considered the horse the woman
was driving a safe animal. M
Frank III. Branch of Waterville, who
was fishing between thestwo bridges
in the stream at the time of the acct
dent was called. He heard the train
approaching but doesn't remember
hearing it whistle. He thought that
perhaps the swift water In the stream
accounted for this fact.
| Raymond ]. Garrant of Waterville,
who was also fishing did not see the
| accident but was called as a witness.
George Wheeler of Oakland did not
see the accident but testified as to the
dangerous condition. He stated that
he also had started petitions to have
a fiagman placed here but had never
received any answer. In regard to the
crossing bell he has heard ii ring when
a train was coming and stated that he
had heard it ring when no train was
in sight. but that it would be impos-
sible for anyone to get within 80 feet
1