Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-14
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY AT WESTERLY Y
Fireman Simeon P. King Stand in Mansfield Case-Evi- dence Strong in Favor of Engineers Accuracy-Histori cal Society Enables New Members-Schools Open Monday.

Fireman King was the main witness for the defense in the Mansfield man slaughter case Friday, and he was on the witness stand all the afternoon the court continuing without even a brief recess. a consideration that has heretofore been given to most wit nesses who testified at considerable length. The benches assigned to spectators were filled, as they are at every session of the court, but after all seats are occupied no more spec tators are admitted to the court room. There are several more witnesses to be called for the defense, and others in rebuttal, and it is believed that the trial will not be concluded before next Friday, and perhaps not then.
 When court reconvened Friday morning Joseph l. Vernon, supervisor of signals of the Providence division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company, who was on the witness stand when court ad- journed Wednesday, resumed his tes- timony. He explained the difference between the Olive street and the Brad ford towers, which was in the control of the electric system. He told of the fastenings of the gravity boxes, which were different in some towers, but all gravity locks work on the same prin- ciple. There are old-time gravity boxes in the Bradford and Wood River towers and in vertical machines Tn regard to the discharge of the tower man at Canton Junction." queried MT. Fitzgerald. Objection was raised by Attorneys Phillips and Otis on the ground that witness did not know of this act of his own knowledge. Ob- jection sustained. Both braces are in the fastening of the gravity boxes at Canton Junction on the horizontal ma chimes. At Wood River and Bradford there are single braces to hold tue gravity boxes rigid. At Newport road tower the old-time gravity boxes are installed and the larger style at Fox street tower in Attleboro and old style at Orn street, Providence.
 In Westerly tower is all electrical and no gravity boxes are required, as the levers are locked wholly by cleo tricity. The same lever controls the east and westbound operation, but the lever as in the other towers. At the division meeting when the question of the gravity lock kick at Canton Junction was discussed, there were 16 supposed to be present, but he could not tell how many more. Superintend- ent Fitzmaurice of the Providence di- vision was there.
 Mir Vernon was then questioned by Attorney Phillips and testified there was difference between the machines in towers, and that those in the Can ton and Bradford and Wood River towers differed, for in the two latter the machines were horizontal and yer tical at Canton. The gravity boxes are more securely fastened on vertical machines. At Westerly the levers are mechanically locked and electric locks govern the distant signal and the ad- vance signal. There is back-locl1ing at Westerly that would prevent the moving of the distant signal with an unlock The wires communicating at Westerly are on Doiec except at cross tracks. He was not ir the tower when the toWerman at Canton June tion got an unlock by a kick at the gravity box, but the case was reported to him. He had no personal knowledge of tho act. that is. lie did not actually see the trick turned.
 Mr. Vernon said lie had known of instances where the relays failed to Fitzgerald. The relay controls were ;n a glass case at Westerly. but he did not know if they were the same at Bradford. lie examined the gravity box at Canton Junction and found it had not been broken. Tn order to
 
 certain place on the gravity box that must be l1icled?" asked MT. Fitzgerald "and are there not marks to show when the gravity box has been kick ed?" MT Phillips objected and the objection was sustaNed. Mir Vernon said that at Wood I>sver the tower man could sit in his chair and place his foot on the gravity box that con troiled the distant signal. He did not look closely to see if there were marks
 
 boxes as to their size. MT. Phillips objected, and the objection was sus- tained, on the ground that the gravity box on Thursday might not be in the same condition as on the night of tle wreck.
 Ivan B. Mosher, road foreman of engines of the Providence division of the New York New Haven and Hart ford road, testified that his duties were to ride on the engines and observe the work and habits of the men. He said he had been in the Canton Junction | tower. Have you ever observed any regularity on the part of the towernan or tower?" The witness said he had | not, but he had found something wrong with a signal maintainer. Here l MT. Phillips made objection as the River and Bradford differed. that is, | the gravity boxes are not similarly | placed Judge Elmer stated that if one machine could be tempered with and | not another the machine in question must be the same. Mir Fitzgerald said the locking is the same in all towers, | and cited an instance that the works 1 in a watch were the same if the watch were laid on an oak or 8 pine table. | The objection was sustained. Then | Mir MT. Fitzgerald questioned no far 1 ther. He had argued that witness for the state had testified that the ma chanical operation of all these gravity l boxes were identical and that they were really the same except in size, and their operation was exactly the | same.
 Leonard J. McNamara. a trainnan 1 of train No. 25. testified that he re- | sided in New Haven and was sum- moned to court when at the Providence station. On the night of the Bradford
 wreck he was on 25. He first noticed 1 the application of the emergency brake and shortly after there was a shock. I