The Washington times., 1914-11-15
RAILROAD IS HELD
FOR TRIPLE TRAGEDY
Coroner's Jury Fixes Blame for
Accident at the Brentwood
Crossing.

HYATTSv1LLE. Nd. Nov 15:-The
verdict brought in last night by the
coroner's jury investigating the death OF
the three children Of Mr.. and Mrs. Glenn
ent T.. Robertson, who were killed at the
Brentwood crossing, by Baltimore and
Ohio railroal train Friday afternoon.
held the railroad company directly
GUS condition OF the crossing at this
point While testimony of several wit
nesses for the State was allowed, but
one witness for the railroad was allowed
on the stand.
The first witness heard was r. A.
Van Horn, who conducts a grocery store
near the point where the accident oc-
CURED. He states he was in the store
when his delivery boy let out cry, and
realizing that something was wrong ran
to the door just in time to see the train
hit the vehicle containing Mrs. Robertson
hear the train blow for the crossing, but
when he went out to assist in picking up
the dead children the crossing bell was
still tapping. He testified that this bell
sometimes failed to ring at the approach
of trains, other times it rang hours at
weak He said at the time OF the &C
cident the bell was ringing weak, and
that the strong wind evidently blew Its
sound away from Mrs. Robertson. he
testified that shortly after the accident
the railroad sent workmen to iHvesti-
gate the bell.
Tried to Give Warning.
Raymond Cole. delivery boy for Mr..
Van Horn, was the next witness. and
he stated Mrs. Robertson passed him
as he was driving his team up to the
store door and that his attention vas
attracted to her, dangerous position
by scream from Mrs. Van Horn. He
testified he then also called to Mrs.
Robertson tut she evidently did not
hear him. He testified that the worn
an was looking down the track In
preaching train. He said she did not
stop before attempting to cross the
track, in order to see II the way was
clear. He also testified that he did
not hear the train blow, and said tine
he'll was ringing weak. He further
testified that Workmen after the ac-
cident tested the bell.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas III. Garri-
son was then called and an attempt
was made to have him testify In con-
nection with the tampering with the
bell after the accident. but 1t was not
allowed. In answer to question put
to him by Claim Agent C. B. w. Chap
man, Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. he said that it was possible, IL
in a certain position at the Brent
wood crossing. to see the station at
Hyattsville, over mile away.
Running Sixty-two Miles an Hour.
John T.. Cooper. engineman Of the
train that killed the children. was
then called to the stand. His testf-
mony was to the effect he was travel
ing at that particular time at a rate
saw the horse attached to the surrey
appear from behind an obstruction
when he was about 100 yards away. He
at once opened his whistle wide, and
applied his emergency brakes. When
almost upon the vehicle he said he could
brough his train to a stop as soon as
possible, but, because Of the rules
which prevented him from leaving his |
cab did not return with the rest Of the
crew to tho point of the accident, and
as no one came and told him he did
not know just how many were killed |
until after he reached Washington. He /
then telephoned the train dispatcher at |
Baltimore for the information.
Claim Agent Chapman then tried /
to have witnesses testify as to the |
condition Of the bell. and stated he
swear that he had tried for three
quarters of an hour to put the bell /
out of order by ordinary means, and |
had failed. This brought q laugh /
from the jury, VINO refused TO near
any more testimony.
The coroner then explained to the |
Jury that the accident was caused by
the dangerous condition Of the cross |
ing and as they could not hold the
driver Of the train the only place to
rest the responsibility was on the
railroad. The jury deliberated over
the testimony about fifteen minutes,
and then reported.
~ Attorney James c. Rogers, Of
HyattsviIle, appeared in behalf of the
State and the Robertson family.