Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-21

ested parties in similar cases in the flu
Wednesday morning there may come in
the future many requests for continu-'
ances in order that witnesses may not
be placed on the stand publicly be-.
for the trial Of civil suits growing
out Of accidents. He said that the
Braley case will not establish definite
precedent, for in cases where the Com
mission is not satisfied of the causes
Of an accident before a public hearing
the hearing will be had without re-
gard to any civil suits that may be
pending, and of course the Commits
sion cannot be expected to know when
civil suits are pending and can make
exceptions only when requested to do
so and only when the circumstances of
the case will permit. 1t happened in
this case that the Commission was al
ready satisfied with the report on file
and could continue the public hear
ing without any Inconvenience to the
business Of the State as represented
by the Commission and without risk
ing any loss of information or the
completion of the records in the case.
In the matter Of the. collision of the
steamers Pemaquid and J. T. Morse,
near Stonington, Sept. 9Th, 1915, the
Commission reports:
while the fact that the Morse was
actually making progress astern when
struck may indicate that her continu-
ing at full speed after she first heard
the Pemaquid's whistle did not con-
tribute to the accident, we believe
that both steamers should have mate
rally reduced their speed when their
fog whistles became audible to each
other and should have prosecuted
their hunt in the dark-for that was
what it amounted to-with great
care. It is difficult. for landsman at
least to understand why vessels run
ming head-on under conditions: where
1t is necessary to give q danger signal
every five seconds, and each knows
that the other is concealed somewhere
in her path, should proceed with the
same. or approximately the same, speed
that they would make, under normal
conditions" - 1.., t.,,..
In the matter of the death of WAL
lace Bruce on the premises of y the
Maine e. New Brunswick Electrical
Power Co. at Pressure Isle, the Public
Utilities Commission reports that the
statements Of Witnesses and the cir
cumstances surrounding the accident
fail to disclose evidence Of negligence
on the part of the utility or of its en-
ployes. Bruce stepped against high
tension wire while working in the
power station.
In the matter of the fatal accident
on the premises Of the Bangor &
Aroostook Railroad Co. at F'renchville,
resulting in the death OF William c.
Evans. Oct. 3. the Commission reports
that Evans, a brakeman, was run over
while in the performance Of his duty.
after losing his footing on the end Of a
car, where he was standing during
switching operations; and that care
ful examination showed that the equip
ment Of the cars was in good condition
SO far as concerned any part that
might have been involved. mo fault
is disclosed on, the part Of the util-
ity or Of the train crew." says the
Commission.
In speaking on the continuance Of
the hearing on the accident which oc-
CURED Oct. 20, and resulted in the l
death OF Roy Braley. Judge Cleaves.
chairman Of the commission, said:
STATE OF MAINE.
Hearing Before, the Public Utilities
Commission- in - 49, - a
A 80, Accident on the L.. A. q W. st.
Ry. Co.'S. Property. Sept. %. 1915. tn
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