Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-10-04
VOL. xxx.
INQUEST WAS HELD
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON
Jury Believed That Evidence Showed
the Train Crew Did Not Exercise
Due Diligence When Placing Cars
On Coke Dump At the Quarry Of
the Blair Limestone Company.

VII SShC 6AttR - 49,
the Blair Limestone Company.
I'VE, the jury find that the said
Nelson Williams came TO his death
on September 30, 1913, by being
crushed by the wheels OF a gondola
loaded with coke situated on the coke
dump in the yards of the Blair Lime
stone company. the said Williams be-
ing then and there in the discharge
of his duties as laborer for the said
Blair Limestone company; and we
further find that the said Williams
death was due to the criminal negli-
gence on the part of the. crew having
charge of b. & O. engine 1894 on said
date"
This was the verdict rendered We'd
nesday afternoon at Blairton after the
jury empanelled by Coroner Osburn
had heard the testimony of the en-
ployes of the Blair Limestone COM
pany and the crew in charge of en-
CINE 1894.
At i o'clock the jury met at Will
ems undertaking parlors, where the
body of Nelson Williams. colored,
who died Tuesday night from injur-
les sustained at Blairton that after
noon, was viewed. Then the coroner
and jury went to Blairton, where the
witnesses were heard.
John r. Rodgers. foreman, stated
he was at the coke dump when Will
liams was hurt: that just before the
accident lime and refuse matter were
being carried away; that he had spok-
en- to the conductor about placing
some cars and received the answer
they would be placed; that after some
cars were on the coke dump track
Williams climbed upon IL to push
down the coke; that when the cars
were showed back the conductor said
the engineer had hit them too hard.
Then he told of the cars passing over
the mans leg, and of the assistance
he rendered Mr.. Rodgers further
stated that there should have been
man at the end of the track to see
that the cars were not run over, He
also stated that Mr. Minor. a brake,
man, had run back 2 IL cars for fear
they would go over the end of the
dump. In conclusion he said he
thought the engineer was negligent;
If not it might have been brakeman
or the signals were wrong.
John Sloan was near but did not
see Williams run over, but heard his
cries. He said after the cars were
placed they should not be moved, but
after they had been placed there the
engine was taken after another car
which was pushed on the track He
believed the cars were pushed about
10 or IS feet
Pete Galowick saw the man hurt
He was working under the dump shov
cling coke. He said Williams was in
STOPPING posture astride the track
and was going to give Greek a
wrench to open the car door. He also
stated that nobody heard the engine
coming back with another car
Fannie Talbert, colored. SAID she
was standing near and saw Williams
on the dump track. AS she was try
ing to dodge truck she heard Will
liams cry take my leg out" She said
the wheel ran over his leg and hand
ana before help could arrive she fear
ed he would die. She also stated that
she gave the alarm.
Stance Brabcowick was under the
dump when the engine was making
the shifts. He saw Williams attempt
ing to give a Greek a wrench when
the car struck him. After the cars
had first been placed on the track
the crew went away and returned
with another car and the second
bump of the cars caught the man.
Pete Baroche said that Williams
walked or 4 ties to give a Greek
wrench after the shifter went for an
other car, and when it was pushed in
he was caught He said Williams did
not speak to any one.
y. N. Hayes, who was in charge of
the engine, No 1894 said he placed
the cars on the coke dump and then
went fo. car of sand. He came back
in about 10 minutes with the car and
in placing it all were moved about
or 8 feet This had to be done to
clear the crossing. The cars were
not placed at first, and when he re-
turned with the car of sand he was
waved ahead. Asked about the plac-
ing of cars he said the conductor had
that in charge and that he went by
signals. He also said that the con-