Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-13
PUBLIC UTILITIES REPORT
ON, DEATH OF RAY BRALEY

The following report by the Maine
Public Utilities Commission on the
death on Sept. 30. 1915 Of Ray Braley
Of Hallowell, through collision Of an
automobile in which he was riding with
an electric car at Stoddard's lane ir
Hallowell will be read with interest by
all who are familiar with the case:
Text Of Report.
A passenger car of the Lewiston. Au:
gusta & waterville Street Railway, bound
for Gardiner, at ITO A. NJ. September 30
1915, struck an automobile on it's track or
Water street, Hallowell, at the Junction
Of Stoddard Lane with said street, wreck
ing the machine and more or less seri'
ously injuring its six occupants. One oi
them. Ray Braley, died from his injuries
about three hours after the accident.
Representatives Of this commission were
on the ground within half an hour from
the time of the accident, and then and
directly afterward made complete IN
vestigation Of its nature and cause, tax
ing the statements Of the employees OF
the railroad companies and OF other wit
nesses, including the owner and driver
of the automobile. While the commission
felt that this investigation had developed
the material facts with substantial accur-
acy and completeness, 1t was thought
that the accident was one of such charac'
ter that a prompt public hearing might
survivors to be heard. Notice was, there
for. given that such hearing would oe
held at the State House, Oct 20, 1919
On the later date, counsel representing
the injured men asked that the nearing
he deferred in order that those men
r,,obt mt he required to submit to ex-
animation and cross-examination penang
civil suits for damages, wnlch tney hao
commenced. Although not entirely cleai
that the public duties Of the commission
should thus wait upon the private inter
ests of individuals, 1t was decided, in view
of the fulness of the information whicf
already had been secured ana the iac'
that the injured persons and their repre-
sentatives made the request for delay &c
,usnend the hearing until an opportunity
nod heen given to adjust the civil claims
~. 49,. advised that this has been done
e. r,rch time has now elapsed that we &c
mt think the public interests demand the
axnen.e Of further public proceeolnss
- uo now close the case, settlng tne
go. ua find them and believe them tc
be. -
The electric car, in charge OF nio'oi mo-.
f. Thompson and Conductor James e.
Roeerson. left the car barn at Augusta az
9 o'clock on the morning OF the acciueh'
running to Gardiner. thence back TO Au-
pusta. and leaving the latter city TOT Hal'
lowell and Gardiner again at O'CLOCK -
WAS an extra car. and was running to-
vard Gardiner backward, that IS, opserV"-
t;on end ahead, owing to lack OF oppor'
+,r,+v to turn the car around on the
t-.cI hetween these two termini.
stoddard lane enters water street aoou'
,75 feet southwest OF western avenue
measuring from centers. The driveway
from the garage from when the au'o
cor,e runs southwesterly into Stoooaro
lane. parallel with Water street anu
,hout 125 feet northwesterly from IT, a
house sitting back about 90 feet ITO" 'he
oar track intercepts the view OF 'he 'i".N
toward Augusta for person approach
to IL along stodard lane. when sucn
rarson got opposite the front OF the
,.. about 70 feet from the car track
-, ,o,,a have a view up the track for
about 400 feet. except that II was sun
-,,h At obscured by trees. bushes ana s'"'
fence. ,ro;no
D.,,o, and five companions were goihe
,,,a Moxie on hunting trip IN at
- ~ o,,tomohile owned and operated
~, podney Frohock. Just pelore 'he
o,oo+r;c car reached Western avenue
oo,st;np about or 10 miles an hour az
so-a;ne 70 the motorman. the whisue wax
Tho motorman then sa" so1he
.t.rding at North street. come
9zo feet below stoddard lane ~al'ne ~, ~.
.he car. He states tnat tno
.,;nrerv and he began to get MS ca ~.
sar control to stop for them' III e.,'
.h,. he SAYS he saw the automooii'
80. o,,t NV the house. l thougnI ne "a'
eAoo ~ ston on the other side OF 'n'
$50 h.cause I was so near the piace
.. -. came right out quick ana H'
s..had down to stop, as supp0se.
.e, -. .ton there, but had no sa'o ~
wv ~. ra,ls and the car starteo ~
So oe Instead Of him stopping i.'
sNlu .,.h+ onto the track and stoppeo
I released my sI,dd,ng and spin
car, but she Nep 49,. and we went righ
ne .ho,,, and crushed them uhoei Wv
onto them anu ,rohably three mile!
an hour when we hit them ..o-
Tho car, as pointed out oy .ne INV ,,.oso. =
man. was about Is feet from IN. the nHtn I'M. va q
as .rasel .om,nr NJ onto the track. and the aut
Sc. carried about 50 feet from the pom
~. w. co,Iis,on. The auto had got onto IN
80 a.. forward wheels had passe'