The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-19
Continued from Page 2.)

| 1nS Su111lLG1llOn or d dG1y IIdASAAI ] with stirring incidents came just at l the adjournment of the first day of l the Joint investigation of the Inter state Commerce Commission and the | Connecticut Public Utilities Commits sion in the Stratfie1d ball room late yesterday when Patrick J. Langdon. an air brake expert and executive of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, after 8 long dissertation on the mechanical eau ipment and p1yst- cal conditions attending the Sta.m- 1 ford wreck, declared in response to questions of Inspector Belnap of the Interstate Commission, that the New Haven road. in his judgment, erred in | allowing a. man of Engineer Doherty' 8 l limited experience to run a train of the importance of the Springfield ex- press.
 shortly before this statement was made He and his brother-in-law, John H. Dillon, had left the hearing at 2 o'clock, to take advantage of the ruling of Interstate Commerce Commits sioner McChord that he might secure counsel before he was subjected to the inqutsition planned for him by At torney Benjamin I. Spock, representing the New Haven road. Also came At torney David Fitzgerald, who had has tened from New Haven in response to a hurry call from Dillon.
 
 was protected from giving testimony that might have been used against him. Dillon sat among the spectators when the hearing was resumed after the midday recess. When Dillon saw Spock preparing to question DoheI'ty, he asked the Indulgence of the inves- tigators to ascertain just what posi- ton Doherty would find himself in should he be recorded in answer to Spockrs questions. Attorney Phil J. Doherty, the In- terstate Commerce CoT1mission1E coun- sel advised Commissioner McChoFd that he believed the commission had no authority to promise immunity to Doherty should he answer questions, and he believed also that the witness had the constitutional right to refuse to answer questions should he believe they would tend to 1nori1n1nate him A large part Of the sfternoon was taken up with test 'mony of railroad men who had the wrecked engine and GETS under surveillance from the time of the wreck, and their testimony was succassfvely introduced to show that no repairs had been made on the equip ment of the train save what was done to the engine just prior to making the trial run to Stamford Tuesday. The representatives of the conIni sston at length agreed that the train was not tempered with fin the way of repairs except TOT SuCh S4BSnL changes dSS were detailed by one of the witnesses, rela- tive to the engine.
 Important testimony was brought out repeatedly relative to the condition of the air brakes on the Pullman car Centerdale. Beanap contended that the braking of the wrecked train in two, the Comfortable leading the second part of the train, coupled with faulty con- ditfons on the Centerdale,s indicated that this was an important factor in the inability of Doherty to stop the train and witnesses were compelled under his adro3t questioning to admit the logic of his contention
 When Doherty had been excused to secure counsel Barry F. Smith, his fireman, was called. Smith recounted his story as told before Coroner Phelan but would not go on record for either the lawyers of the commissions or of the railroad. as to distances or rates of speed He said he had been firing Is months, and declared he was judge of either speed or distances
 Harry Palmer, a trainInan, testified that he felt the shock Of the emer- gency application just before the col lis1on but he too was unable to locate just where this was applied.
 Engineer John Harmon. to whom reference was made in testimony of Doherty earlier in the day, as the en- g1neer who had taken the s1nlucIzy en-
  Doherty. said he had found no diff cu1ty with the engine.
 'tDid you run by one of the signals ?'' asked Attorney Doherty.
 'Yes, sir"
 s'How far?'
 t"Two hundred and forty feet.''
 Shown a report as to trouble with the air pump, he Identified it as his There were other features of the en- zine to which the report called atten- tion. He said he was given the loco motive Monday night, when the re- pairs he called for had been made and he said he took the locomotive back to New Haven.
 Harmon was then questioned about running by the signal for which heI is now under suspension He said he came into South Norwalk with a clear distance signal and the home signal set against him.
 Does this often oocur?''
 They say not,'' responded the wit ness. They say it is impoasibIe.''
 -Ddd 1t ever occur before?'' Yes sfr.'
 t-on this road7'' Yes, sir"
 '.At What point?'' '.At Greenwich 9
 'when did that happenT' Last winter. We reported 1.-the conduc- tor and myseR-by wire from Stam- ford''
 'Dfd you have a travelling engineer with yoa, when this occurred?'' asked MT. Doherty.
 ''Yes, sir.''
 '.Ddd he see the distance signal7'' ''rGo, sir; only the home signal"
 Was 1t on his report you were talk en off the train9'' T believe not; no. sir.''
 Was there any special reason for the traveling engineer to be on. the train with you?'' '''None that I know of''
 At the time you had this engine, you didn't have the same cars as were on the second 53' the day of the wreck?' No, sir.''
 ''And sometimes it happens.'' contfn- ued MT. Belnap, apparently with the condition of the Centerda1e in mind, t-tahat the bra1ing is affected by the