The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-23

On the date named, 1st 53 train
 passed into and stopped in said safety zone at 4:46 P. M. for the purpose fof changing power for the remaining run to New York. When the power had been changed and 1st 53 had com menced to move forward, No. 1888 en- zine of the End section of train 55
 bound from New Haven Co New York
 (herefnafter known as End 53) under the management of engineman Charles A Doherty, having passed the distant and home signals, set at dan ger, crashed into the rear end of the coach "Skylark" of 1st 53s in which the deceased and others were travel ing, and pushed its angry way through the coach, mutilating and so injuring the deceased that she died shortly af- ter being removed therefrom-
 It was shown in evidence that said Doherty, having successfully passed all required examinations of the Com pany, was on the spare list of engin- eers, and was, by reason thereof, and his good service record, regarded a8 a competent engineer by the New Ha- ven Company, and although having only the one years experience as an engineer in freight and yard service as required by the locomotive engin- eers' agreement with the Company of April 18th, 1913, was placed by the Company on June 10th in charge Of 
 had made trips on two days in the passenger service of the Company be- fore his assignment to engine 1898 on said June 10th, on which date he ran his engine twice from New Haven to Stamford. and return. He was in charge of engine 1888 again on June 11th, and again on the day Of the dis- aster.
 It appeared also that engine 1898. which had been purchased by the New Haven Company through it's purchas- ing agent from the American Locomo- tive Company of New York, had been but recently delivered to the Com pany and had been in regular passen- ger service only a short time prior to Doherty's assignment thereto. It was a powerful engine of the Pacific type but whose reverse lever had been found to be stiff in operation by Do- heFty and others, whilst it's air-bra1e activities were unfamiliar to and ap- parentIy uncertain in operation under Doherty's management, causing it to slip past the usual stopping place sgt Bridgeport station on June 10th, and to fail to make a timely stop at South NorwaIk on June 18th, the day Of the accident.
 Because of the probability of more ! or less difficulty in operating the en- ! zine advantageousIy, DOherty was warned, before leaving the round 1
  John F. Carroll, the road foreman of ] engines, of manager Bardo's displeas- ure over engineers getting Into trou- ble, and said to Doherty: Look ou& { for yourself"; Harmon got into Ie yesterday" "COmmence braking far [ enough back to be sure you will stop.
 It Is and was the custom of the Company to cause an instructor. call 4 ed a "traveling engineer" to accom- pany, at times, operating enginemen on their engines, for the purpose ocl familiarizing such engineer with the characteristics of the road, the best methods of operating their engines to achieve best results. and generally to fully equip them with apt knowledge in Speed economy. to the end that the best means Of securing schedule speed consistent with safety be practiced by them.
 In the case of Doherty, however, no travelling engineer accompanies him on his runs or advised him ez-' cept as stated mainly because of his good service record with the Com pany and his known ability as a com potent engineman. It was shown in evidence that on June 10th, Doherty, in view of his failure to stop his train properly at the Bridgeport station, be- came convinced that the air brakes Of the engine and train were so uncer- tain in causing the prompt stopping of the train, when needed, that he made an entry in the Stamford round-house book, Brakes no Good"
 The Stamford repair man, who not ed the complaint, made no repairs on he brakes, as he claimed he found none necessary Doherty, on his re- urn trip to New Haven, on the same lay, assuming that repairs had been made, had cautious but satisfactory ,eturn run with engine 1888, in puli- ng train 26 to New Haven.
 On the day of the accident, after he usual inspection at New Haven vas made, End 53, train. consistinrr 1f engine 1888 pulling 8 cars. with Ie-
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