New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-02
NEW HAVEN OFFICIALS
WARNED BY CORONER
Must Face Responsibility for
Wreck if Inquest Places Blame
on Any Individual.
ULTIMATUM TO RAILROAD
Company's Attorney Told They
Will Not Be Permitted to
Hide Behind Corporation
Mellen to Testify Monday.

lFrom a Star Correspondent OF The Tribune. ]
Bridgeport. Conn, July l.-Coroner
Phelan. at his inquest to-day into the
: New Haven wreck at Stamford. June 10,
issued an ultimatum 10 the railroad that
he would not allow any of It's officials 10
hide behind the corporation name I'm case
he could uncover evidence, placing the
| responsibility for the disaster or any in
dividual in charge Of the equipment or
| operation OF the road.
This declaration came as a result Of
further efforts on the part Of BENJAMIN
!. Spock. an attorney for the railroad, 10
block the coroner in his attempt 10 get
definite information as 10 the duties and
powers of the New Haven officials. Ar
thur +. Clark. secretary Of the company.
was on the stand. and the coroner asked
him to produce contracts for the pur-
chase Of track equipment and the main
tenance OF the line. when Spock inter
posed objections.
Considerably nettled by Mr. Spock's
attempts at obstruction. the coroner said
he wished to have him present TO assist
in the investigation. but refused to have
him attempt to direct or control It, re-
! marking: II am responsible TO the public.
Mr.. Spock, and they will be my judges"
He said he did not want 10 make difl-
cult the defence Of any one indicted in
the Westport wreck OF last year, or 10
embarrass any one not culpable in the
Stamford wreck. but that II would be
less than his duty and a waste OF time
If he should stop at the conclusion that
the company was at fault, holding IT re-
sponsible as a corporation. without nam
ing each individual whose conduct
brought about that responsibility.
THE corporation as such cannot be
adequately dealt with II II should be at
fault" he said. The corporation acts
through men in the doing OF its business
/ wish TO know. therefore. the power each
man is invested with and the duties i'm
posed upon each, that responsibility for
fault. If any should be found. shall be
properly placed
II wish TO know who is responsible for
sending out wooden cars IL steel cars
were available who il is has authority to
authorize sufficient automatic or other
stop devices and TO fix the distances be-
tween home, distance or other signals.
w lO IL ~ pCnti W oH"h
speed trains, ordinarily a block apart.
10 come within a few feet of each other
practically in the same block who 1t is
that has and Yields the power of intrust-
ing the lives Of travellers behind engines
the operating Of which the engineer is not
| familiar with"
Coroner Phelan got from Mr.. Clark the
| corporation bylaws, but Mr.. Clark said he
had no printed matter In his possession
showing the duties Of the officers. Copies
Of contracts for the purchase OF rolling
stock since January l. 1912. were also
placed in the records.
Fred $. Evans. chairman of the general
| committee OF the roads engineers, was
| questioned in regard 10 the agreement
with the road whereby one years expert
| ence only is required OF extra engineers
before they shall be eligible to take out
express trains. Mr.. Evans said that al
| though the engineers had stood out for
! that agreement they had not coerced the
company into accepting 1t, and should the
company refuse 10 abide by IL would not
consider IL sufficient cause TO strike. He
placed the burden for determining the fit
ness of engineers for taking out trains
upon the company
The inquest was adjourned with Thurs
day morning as a tentative date for its
continuation. The coroner set Monday
afternoon, however. as the definite time
when he would expect Mr.. Mellen TO APP
pear before him. Mr.. Melen had been
asked TO appear to-day but was excused
on account Of slight indispositlon.