The Detroit times., 1915-07-17
BLAMES
AUTO|STS
FOR DEATHS
Railroad M en- S ay
Their Carelessness
Causes Accidents
is IGNORANT
OF CITY'S LAWS

|
where three people were killed on
the evening Of July 4, Is an excep-
tionally dangerous crossing OF the
Pere Marquette and Wabash rail-
roads, was obtained. Friday morn
ing. la Coroner Rothacher's inquest
into the deaths of Joseph Fabyszak,
his wife Nettie and Olga Iwinski.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Keidan also obtained an admission
from George <. Williams. superin.
tendent of The Detroit Terminal Co..
over whose tracks the Pere Mar.
quette and Wabash enter the city,
that he did rot know of city ordi'
nance limiting the speed Of trains to
six miles an hour.
Delbert Burton, No. 270 Green.
ave, testified that he heard the crash
and ran to the crossing. The engine
came to a stop about two and one
half blocks beyond Green-ave., he
said. after hitting the machine.
Attorney F. B. Brown, for the
Pere Marquette. tried to secure an
admission from Burton that q clear
view OF the west-bound track IS feet
south on Green-ave.; but the witness
insisted that a man In a moving
automobile would have hard worI
stopping his machine, II he did see
a train at that distance from the
track.
Mr.. Burton said that on the night
OF July 1, he assisted someone in
jured at the Green-ave. crossing |;
that he knew Of a fiagman having
been killed there. and Of several
other accidents; and that since July
4, trains have been crossing Green.
ave. at reduced speed.
| William II. Tuhrs, No. AZ Ed
mund-pl, testified that he was drir'
ing north on Green-ave. a little
ahead of the machine that was
wrecked.
| II didn't see the train till my front
wheels were on the track" he said.
After crossing. | turned to look at
the other machine, but | saw there
was no help for 1t. turned Mrs.
Tuhrs' head, SO she wouldn't see
what happened. After the crash
she tainted and had to drive right
on to drug store"
Mr.. Luhrs said that he Knew
Green-ave. was dangerous cross.
ing. and that he had loosened his
curtains TO see better cit had been
raining) and had reduced his speed
to five miles an hour.
| George Z. Williams, No. AZ Grand
ave-. Highland Park, superintendent
CT the Detroit Terminal Co. said that
about AZ passenger trains and 30 or
40 freight trains pass Green-ave each
day, not to speak Of switch engines.
| Mr.. Williams said that he did not
believe that there is now a Detroit
ordinance governing the speed OF
| trains within the city. Mr.. Keidan
read him the ordinance. which states
that nc train shall be operated at a
speed OF more than six miles an
hour. Mr.. Williams said that street
cars operate at higher speed than
| that, and that no one had ever called
his attention 20 the ordinance. He
did not know that accidents had to
be reported TO the state railroad
commission unless they were fatal.
Mr.. Brown objected 10 this line OF
questioning.
II want to find out what these rail-
road men know about the laws"
said Mr.. Keidan.
Perhaps | could ask you about
laws you don't know anything
about suggested Mr.. Brown.
Perhaps you couldn't" retorted
Mr.. Keidan.
Go on with your questions" said
DR.. Rothacher
Mr.. Williams said that he consid-
ers the crossing a perfectly safe one.
II ordinary precautions are taken.
From the corner Of the building near.
est the track. he said, he could see
east TO Artillery-ave. and west to
Harbaugh-ave. without difficulty.
Mr.. Keidan asked how anyone Ia
to know at night that he Is approach
Ing railroad, since there was no
Waterman after $3.50. Mr.. Williams
said there is a sign, but he wouldn't
swear that IL Is legible.
isn't It part Of your duty to
know" asked Mr.. Keidan.
| II suppose 1t is
Mr. Williams said: I'VE blame
the automobiles. They are driven
recklessly."
And you operate your road on
that principle?" asked Mr.. Keidan.
1--WE operate for the safety Of our
trains"
Mr.. Williams said he thought the
city ought to have traffic officer at
Green-ave.
"How about traffic officers all over
the city, protecting the people," ask
ed Mr.. Williams.
Were talking about your road"
Mr.. Keidan retorted.
A debate arose as to whether the
city ordinances permit the blowing
of whistles for railroad crossings.
The state law says that the sounding
OF whistles may be omitted" when a
city ordinance prohibits II. The De-
troit ordinance OF 1911 prohibits the