New Britain herald., 1914-04-30
DEFENSE OF MILLER
 OPENED IN COURT
Engineer of White Mountain K
 p,css Not Paced on Stand:

New Haven, Conn, April 30.-When l the defense of August B. Miller, | charged with manslaughter, was taken l up in the superior court today it l was expected that Miller, engineer of the White Mountain Express which ran into the Bar Harbor Express at North Haven on September 7, would tell his own story of the collision at the outset His counsel, however, had. outlined a. different plan and be- gan by laying the ground work for his story. First of all telegraphers at the Berlin and Meriden stations were called to tell the time on the morning of September 2 that certain trains passed. including the two eA- presses which were in collision. Att tempts to introduce for the defense copies of rules and parts of rules governing engineers, and sketch of the territory near the wreck were ob- jected to by States Attorney filling, after several short disputes. The latter won out in most of his ob- jections. Trains passed Berlin sta- tion at 5:5s, 6:04, 6:09, 6:35 and 6:55, all going south on the morning of September ?. They passed Meri- den at 6:oe, SIP, 6:1s, 6:23, 6:34, 6:44 and 7:05, an accommodation train being included in the latter record.
 filings Objections Upheld.
 F. s. Evans, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers committee, was sworn. Objec- tions made by MT. Alling to NE. Evans r, gineers' committee with officials of the road over interpretations of the rules were, sustained. This was after Mir. Evans had stated the nature of his railroad experience and his present duties Objections were sustained when offered to questions asked him to describe signalling systems on the road, as were those to questions as to whether cautionary signals were dis played between banjo signals. MT. filling constantly objected to questions most of which the court sustained and exceptions were taken. MT. Evans not having run over that section, could not describe banjo signals 23, where the accident occurred, and 25 at Wallingford. MT. Goodhart asked
 Mr. Evans whether or not he had had conversation with the official of the road as to the banjo signals 23 and
 25, and interpretation of the rules.
 MT. Evans said he had late in May,
 1912.
 Clash Between Attorneys. MT. filling objected to testimony as
 to the nature of that conversation. Much argument followed between the attorneys during which MT. Goodhart said that his object was to show that engineers were operating under rules printed in 1907, that conditions had so changed that in 1912 a committee representing Miller and other engi- neers had gone to the officials of the road for interpretation of the rules as applied to this section of the 1i- vision by banjos 23 and 25. He 1 claimed that it would be shown that engineers had protested running con- l ditions on that section, and as the result of conference 8 different i'm l depreciation was given to the rules 1 than was specifically printed in the rule book.
 | MT. Goodhart's contention brought l up again the question of rules, rum ming cards. orders to engineers, etc. 1 MT. filling objected to much of the 1 matter which MT. Goodhart tried to get in.