New-York tribune., 1913-06-15
ROAD DENIES AIR
BRAKE COMPLAINT
Continued from first page.

fence by witness Of its own. This
was brought about through the testi-
monv of c. +. Carroll road foreman Of
engineers. who happened to be in the
room. and was in line with the ap-
rarent intention TO discredit Doherty's
claims as to his complaint about the
brakes.
Coroner Phelan had just finished ex-
amining three engineers whom he
called to testify as TO their experience
with Engine / l.33S. the one that caused
the wreck. To see whether they would
corroborate Doherty's testimony Of yes
terday as 10 the faulty operation Of the
airbrakes. After the last witness had
left the stand the Coroner suddenly r.
called that there was one more techni-
cal point he wished to bring out.
one Of the engineers. however had
left the room, and the Coroner still
wanted more light on the practical
operation of an engine.
IF you wish" volunteered Mr.. Spock.
there are several former engineers
here who might be able 10 help you.
There is Mr.. Carroll for Instance"
All right" said the Coroner. how
long since you were an engineer, Mr.
CARROLL"
July. 1912" replied Mr.. Carroll,
stepping briskly 10 the stand.
on you are fresh enough; you'll do
said the Coroner What do you 10
now. Mr.. CARROLL"
Il am road foreman Of engineers"
said Mr.. Carroll settling into the wit
ness chair The Coroner stinened up
and looked AZ him for a moment.
Official Praises Doherty.
"WHl Won tell me. coufdentially. Mr..
Carroll" he said. Just why YOU are
here"
"Oh. because ] am m official Of the
road said Mr.. Carroll. and in reply
/ 10 the Coroners questions he explained
/ that his work consisted ia riding with
engineers, watching their work. the
working Of their engines and all things
pertaining 10 the practical operation
| Of locomotives
IL was new place. he explained. cre-
ated only three months ago and was
for the purpose Of making for safety "a
running trains. part of h.s duties being
10 size up the men, instruct them IN
/ their work and 10 hear their COM
plants.
u know Doherty." he said. Il know
him we,i-knowu him for the last
twelve years. He IS first class engi-
neer. a fine young man. I instructed
| him myself IN running 80 .33S which
, Is one Of the new Pacific type OF en-
gines which We have had only a month.
II told him not 10 let her get away
I from him. as she was a new engine and
pulled strong lie told me Of being
/ two minutes late one run. and | told
/ him not 10 mind that, but 10 consider
safety nrst Of all. He also told me of
his running by the signal az Bridge
| port last Tuesday. and told him why
he did H."
You mean be told YOU why, don't
| you" the Coroner asked
no. told him why" replied Carroll
4 told him the reason was he came
! into the station Ike the devil and let
her get away from him
Didn't h. tell you the reason was
rhn, the airbrakes weren't working
right the Coroner said
Roads Witness chuekes
"Oh. no. oh. no" Carroll said, hts
voice breaking into a chuckle He
liln't say anything % me about the
air"
Coroner Phelan looked taken aback
when he realized that this bit Of de-
fence had been slipped IN by the wit
ness Nj Spock mad furnished him. He
excused Carroll
Carroll vas preceded on the stand by
John Harmon. George X. Reicher and
Charles Rust. all fellow engineers OF
Dohcrty who had had experience in
running Engine 1888.
Harmon said he had been with the
company as an engineer for twenty-five
years and as fireman before that FOR
seven years. but had been suspended
last Monday while operating Engine
1885 for running past Il signal at Nor
walk. Although he testified that In
using the engine he found the levers.
and especially the reverse lever. worked
hard, as might be expected from a new
engine ne did not attribute his run
ming past the signal to that fact.
He explained that his misadyenture
arose from the fact that he found the
distance signal open. but that when
he came To the home signal without
any warning ne found it against him
when he was right upon IL, and there
fore he ran past IT.
can sdistance and a home signal
be at variance In that way" he was
asked.
They say they can't" he replied,
but they were
The Coroner called Clayton y. Wood
ward, general superintendent Of the
New Haven road, who had previously
testified as to the working Of the block
signal system. back TO the stand, and
asked him whether it was true that
the signals might be set differently, but
Ar N-,oduard denied that they could.