Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-19
MRS. PEtL confident
SHE WILL WIN VERDICT
Thinks Proof Has Been Presented
That Railroads Negligence Caused
Death Of Husband.
COURT ADJoURNs TO MONDAY
Witnesses for the Long Island Be-
como Involved In Haze Of Contra
dfctions Under Vigorous Cross
Examination OF Justice Van Wyck.
ISpecial 10 The Times. Dispntch. l

Especial to The Times DtSpatch.J
NEW YORK. June 1s.-After n weary
week. Mrs. S. Osgood Pell left the
Queens Supreme Court room in Long
Island City this afternoon, express
ing confidence that she would win her
100000 suit against the Long Island
Railroad for the death OF her husband
at the Wreck Lead Crossing collision
OF August 3. 1913.
i am not strong. and the ordeal
particularly during the day upon which
| was witness--was trying" she said.
But am satisfied Judge Van Wyck
has presented strong proof that the
railroads negligence caused the death
OF my husband and Mr.. Laimbeer."
Mrs. Pell was greatly cheered to-day
when witnesses for the railroad be-
came involved In haze Of contradic-
tons. Conductor Jasper Fl. Bells and
Arthur Schultz. trainmen on the cars
that crashed into the Pell limousine,
became confused under cross-examina-
non. and largely destroyed the effect
Of their direct testimony. This was TO
the effect that Engineer Eaton had
blown warning whistle 1900 feet
from the fatal crossing.
Conductor Bells swore that the train
was running thirty miles an hour at
the time of the accident. He insisted
that the motorman blew the two long.
two short" warning whistle 1900 feet
from the crossing.
Don't you fix this distance at 1900
feet because that is the place where
the whistle should be blown asked
Judge Van Wyck
Yes" replied the witness after a
moment OF hesitation.
DIFFERENT TESTIMONY
AT PREVIOUS INQUIRY
Bells admitted. too. that at the Pub
lie Service Commission investigation he
had testified that between a minute
and half and two minutes apsed
between the warning whistle and the
collision. This would mean. he ad-
mitted. that the motorman blew tn.
whistle at a point about one mile away
from the crossing.
Schultz. the tra!nman, entangled by
Judge Van Wyck's questioning. vari-
ously fixed the point at which the
whistle was blown at a distance of
from os6 feet to a mile from the
crossing.
Schultz insisted. however, that the
lights in the first cars on the train
were burning at the time OF the crash.
Others testified to the same effect
These included James T. Tucker. form
erly conductor on the Long Island.
who. said he was a passenger; Travis
w. Soper. switchboard operator. in
the substatton near the crossing; his
wife. Mrs. Ivy soper; Frederick C.
Donlin. a Lynbrook policeman. and
James Van Buren,, a trainman.
Charles H. Southland. civil engineer
and expert OF speed tests, said that a
train proceeding at rate OF thirty
miles an hour on a dry rail- and level
track could be halted within sos feet
This was in answer to Hypothetical
question OF Mr.. Littleton. who was per-
mitted to ask it only after objections
by the plaintiff.
On cross-examination. Mr.. Southland
admitted that he had never seen the
test applied TO train OF seven electric
cars.
After his testimony. court was ad :
journed until 10 o'clock Monday
morning.