The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-11
Manslaughter Charged to
IL" Trammen: in 7ombS
MOtOrman and Conductor of the Local in Crash Held in
$500 Bail Eacll-Crimnal Negligence Implied
in Statements of Investigators.


Chairman Edward T.. Mccall and Mr..
Hcdley asserted they were not a factor
that inquired to any great extent in the roll
"f dead and injured. The telescoped car,
the rear one of the express train, which
stood at the 10th street station. its pas
sengers almost discharged. was admittedly
an old one. The forward car of the
local was comparatively new, with steel
underframes at the ends
Mt lledley said the elevated structure
~ not modern enough for the heavy steel
care now being built that no ali steel
car light enough for that service has been
devised also to install the safety trim
block signal system under present condi-
ions would decrease the carrying capacity
nom 20 TO So per cent. and even IL
IlgNt steel cars were built for the ele-
waited roads 1t would not he good business
20 cas-. aside the cars now IN service
As for the particular signals or lack
OF them which caused the collision OF two
trains Mr. Hedley said that when the
local train passed the curve at ION
street and entered the straightaway toward
the llbth street station the semaphore
signals at 18TH street and li5th street
at the express crossovcr-showed green
meaning a clear track.
Mr liedley asserted that steel cars
under the same circumstances would not
have been any safer. lie pointed out
hoH Few are the accidents in the subway
ana on the elevated compared with or
binary street traffic. Some of the cars
he admitted are thirty years old and
stu In use. They may be good too he
sald. Tor that many years more because
they are being constantly rebuilt While
the company could buy steel cars for 20
or 30 per cert more than wooden ones
h" maintained that for elevated service
he light steel cars that would have to be
bui!t would not he any more immune TO
telescoping.
Assistant District Attorney Deacon
Murphys investigation disclosed that Nc.
Mahon had been IA motorman for two
years and had been with the company for
seven. Rolls has had nine years service
with The PETERBOROUGH. but has been a
conductor for only short time
Public Service Chairman Edward T.
Mccall commenting on the fatalities said
that something must he done TO prevent
repetition OF the accident. He eaid the
commission In its effort TO make the ele-
waited safer In the future would not hesitate
to compel the company to spend money.
the safety OF the public being the first
consideration.
Il do not believe" he said. that the
wooden ears figured prominently in the
fire which followed the collision. be.
lieve that steel cars would have Suffered
in collision just as seriously. ! am OF
the opinion that they would have been
'eleetppen by the impact or the collision.
So far as ordering steel cars substituted
for the wooden care on the elevated lines
is concerned that substitution would re
quire the reinforcement of all the elevated
structure"
only TWO of those hurt in the accident
on Wednesday evening remained in the
hospital Yesterday They are peter
Hagen. AZ, OF l46 West l6Sth street
whose chest was injured. and Luke
o'keefc. an elevated guard. OF $40 West
lSlst street, whose ribs We're broken. At
the Hasem Hospital it was said hey
would recover
The various Investigations. especially
those of the District Attorney. Coroner
Patrick Riordan and the Public Service
Commission. will go on. Ii was not de-
cided Yesterday when the Coroner's in
quest will be held