The Washington herald., 1913-09-05
TRAINMEN Held
IN wreck PROBE
Coroner, After Secret Inquest,
Issues Warrants for En-
gineer and Flagman.
M'CHORD ISSUES REBUKE
Declares Interstate Commerce Com
missions Investigation Will
Be Open.
M'CHORD ISSUES REBUKE

New Haven, sept. IA n. Mlher' eh-
Efneer of the White Mountain express
which crashed into the Bar sHsrbor eX-
press last Monday morning and Flagman
Murray, of the latter train, were arrested
tonight on a warrant issued by Coroner
Mix, alleging his suspicion that they
were criminaIly responsible for The death
Of Royal A. Hotchkiss, one Of the victims
the disaster.
Bail in the sum Of 5000 was demanded
for each of them. Miller was released
at once, the bond for him being fur
nished by Francis B. Gates, secretary
and treasurer Of the local branch of the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers.
He left at once with Mr.. Gates or his
home at Montowese.
ct have no fear of the outcome" was
all that he would say.
Efforts are being made TO obtain a
bondsman for FIagman Murray, but as
he is not member OF the brotherhood
nor of any organization, the local men,
bers and officials do not feel like taking
the responsibility of going bail for him.
Royal A. Hotchkiss, upon whose death
Mix elected to make his inquiry, and Tor
whose death the two railroad employees
have been arrested, was the twelve-year-
old son Of New Haven citizen.
McChord Rebukes Coroner.
The Fedora! government today stepped
into the investigation of Tuesday S
wreck on the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad, which cost more than
a score of lives, and administered a re-
buke TO States Attorney Albert r. Alling
and Coroner Ell Mix. OF New Haven
County.
The medium Of the rebuke was an an
nouncement by Chairman c. c. McChord,
of the Safety Appliance Bureau OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission that
the public would be admitted when he
calls witnesses to fix responsibility Tor
the disaster.
Auing and Mix conducted a hearing
today but the public was not admitted
and all the witnesses were told oy the
officials not to reveal the testimony that
they had given at the secret proceedings.
Several violated this order, but If the
Federal government had not ordered
complete inquiry it is probable that much
of the testimony relating to the rail-
roads property and management would
never have been revealed.
Train Was Running Fast.
Several facts that will go far in fixing
responsibility for the wreck were learned
today. Despite the fact that the operat-
ing schedule Of the railroad had been al
most demoralized by the heavy trafhc
Of early this week, the White Mountain
express was travelling at speed OF ntty
miles an hour when ii struck the Bar
Harbor express. Chairman McChord
will demand an explanation of this When
he opens his hearing tomorrow. -
Engineer August B. Miller, who was in
charge of the White Mountain Express
when it pIowed through the wooden cars
Of the Bar HarbOr Express, was not the
regular engineer of the train. Miller
had pleaded with his superior at Spring
field not to give him the run. He had
worked more. than eight hours and had
but little sleep.
Il am too tired to make the trip.
Please put another man on the tram
he pleaded. But his request was not
granted.
Members of the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers are indignant because
Coroner Mix denied Miller the privilege
of being represented by counsel at the
secret hearing conducted today.
brotherhood Plans Investigation.
Some action is sure to be taken, not
only by the local members of the or
sanitation, but it will be national in its
scope. according to F. S. Evans, chair
man of the board of directors Of the
brotherhood.
One of the facts brought out at the
inquest was that 4 rescuer, arriving early
en- the scene of the wreck, climbed on
top of one of the sleepers to assist a
woman passenger who was pinned down
in the wreckage and his own weight
carried him through the roof of the car
and he himself received injuries.
Further details with regard to the
cars on the New Haven came in state
ments that old parlor cars, the property
of the New Haven, had been turned over
to the Pullman Company and by the lat
ter were repainted and marked Pull
man" and sent into the service OF the
New Haven road
President Elliott said today that he
knew nothing about this, having just
taken charge of the company.
The startling statement that Engineer
Miller did not wish to make the fatal
run Tuesday morning was made public
today when Mrs. Jennie Norton fos-
ter-mother of the detained engineer,
came to town and declared that i'm
-mediately after the wreck Miller returned
to his home, and after breaking down
declared to her that he was forced to
make the run by the yardmaster at
Springfield.
Forced to Make Rum.
Gus came home about II a. m. Tues
day." said Mrs. Norton. He was cry
ing like a child. He said he made his
run from Stamford, Conn.,, on No. IS at
1:37 a. m, and after leaving his engine
was about to get ready for his train
for home when the yardmaster came to
him and said:
MILLER, you will have to make the
run back on No. s.
Gus replied: For Gods sake, man,
I'm almost dead. Can't you get some
body else?'
The yardmaster replied that he had
nobody else and that Gus would have
to make it
He left Springfield at 40 a. m, with
only about an hour and a half's rest"
President Elliot issued a statement at
his office tonight in which he declared
the Company was lending every assist
ance possible to the investigation now