New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-12
marlborough Heads Face
piordan in Inquest Over
81" Accident.
BANKER EXPLAINS
LIGHT SAFEGUARDS
,rnholds Management, but
Ayers He Doesn't APP
prove of Collisions.

40. BELMONT tried his hand yes
...5,v afternoon st teaching Coroner
- 7 Riordsn the a, b. c's of cor
-. management. Theodore P. Shonts
-. took = hand. So did Horace NJ.
- secretary Of the lnteSorough,
=. brought the records Of the com
-. % the coroncrs' court in the Mu-
re.psl Building.
b., when .hc last witness had ended,
,..-3s7 was expressing il 10 be his be-
- that directors Of such corporations
,,oBl5 know ali about the location Of
,igrM lamps at every point Of the
system.
Voninslly the coroner was inquiring
~, the deaths Of two persons in q
,,rlision on the elevated at 10th ST.
~ December s, but Riordan. whose
-,nperisms. recalling Hsrrigan and
Fart. suggest what one coroner might
a. 4 the board should be abolished,
ne, sight Of this in attempts TO joke
WITH Shouts and Belmont and get
Fisher 70 answer questions that sug-
rested the old time minstrel query,
Have you stopped beating your wife
vet! Answer yes or no."
Belmont and Shonts Testify.
Riordan read most Of the questions
he asked from manuscript, and between
questions made speeches, occasionally
varying the process 10 read questions
cent 10 him by reporters. The exami-
nation Of Mr.. Fisher, the first witness
called in the afternoon. gave Belmont
and shonts an idea OF what they were
IN for.
do ! understand that your directors
approve Of one train running into an
other" Riordan demanded after the
secretary had said the directors con-
adered they were taking all possible
yrscsutions 20 safeguard passengers.
Not at ALL" replied Fisher. "Of
course we do not approve Of that
Are you familiar with the signal at
18th ST. ."
lam not" replied the witness.
aAnd you are a member Of the board
q directors ?" retorted the coroner.
The witness assured the Coroner that
Il. directors took every possible action
locking toward safety. Riordan, who
apparently mad not the slightest idea
O. what meeting Of directors is like,
yesis:ed in asking, What action have
the directors taken p"
III you viii make your question spe-
cife. will Try 20 answer 1t. In what
respect"
IN every respect. Is there anything
IN the books 20 show -
let me explain what is done at the
directors meetings suggested the
witness But the Coroner wanted no
explanation from Fisher, who was APP
psrently trying 20 make u clear that
The records we're not stenograpnlc re-
ports Of the sessions.
- would have 20 examine the entire
minutes Of the company, thee are hun
dreds Of pages. 10 point out instances
to you replied the witness. Il Will
swear that IN any case coming TO the
attention OF the board where no action
vas taken no action was considered
necessary"
That disposed Of the secretary, and
then Mr.. Belmont qualified by saying
he was chairman Of the marlborough
board
What action have the directors TAX
en- 70 safeguard the lives of passen-
GERS demanded the Coroner.
The banker met the question squarely.
We have spent a great deal Of
money" he replied, adding that funds
we're freely appropriated whenever 1t
sppesred they were needed Tor that
purpose.
Belmont Backs Hedley.
DO you approve of Mr.. Hedley and
ne method Of inspecting rolling stock
and MS entire management OF the
Ines" asked Riordan.
y DO" said Mr.. Belmont.
Then you approve Of accidents =
No one approves OF accidents Bel
mont shot back
Except fortunate accidents" said
the Coroner.
What" said Belmont.
Except fortunate accidents" grinned
me Coroner There are good accidents
and bad accidents. Some Of us get poor
oy accident and some of US get rich by
accident"
Is that question:" demanded tn
banker.
Mordsn grinned again and shifted