Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-12
AUTOMATIC SIGNALS IN USE.
Coroner So Reports as to New Haven
Roads Recent Wreck.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Now that Coroner Mix of New Haven
has rendered his verdict as to the cause
causes for the sad accident on the
New Haven at Milford, Conn, February
%. may ] have the privilege of recall
ing to your attention the editorial in
The Evening Star February %. headed.
Needless Railroad Slaughter?
A certified copy of Coroner Miy's ver-
dict SAYS:
From the testimony taken at the in
quest ] am forced to the conclusion.
and I SO find, that said death was
caused by. the neglect. omission and
carelessness of the engineer of said
engine of said train No. in failing to
properly observe said signals and to
obey the indications thereof and the
rules governing the same"
Coroner Mix further says:
II find there is esta blished and ma in
tanned by said company, upon what is
known as the New York Division.
system of automatic and other signals
which are maintained and esta blished
for the proper and safe operation of
railroad trains over said division.
said automatic signals were installed
about two years ago, and are regarded
as efficient and as dependa BILE as any
automatic railroad signal yet devised.
Il find that upon the morning of Feb
ruary % said signals We're in good
working order within the territory
comprising the approach to Woodmont
signal tower and Milford station when
said trains. No. 80 and No ), were pro.
ceeding over said tracks.
The Evening Stars editorial of Feb
ruary % closes thus:
This wreck should be dealt with 50
severely as an example of culpa BILE
negligence that railroads throughout
the United States will be reminded of
the necessity of q scrupulous adher.
ence to the laws of public safety"
coroner Mix verdict further says;
immediately a fagman went back
with flag, torpedocs and fuses TO pro-
tect the rear of said train. lThe train
which was at reSt.D
Before colliding with train No -,
the engine of train No. > struck and in
stantiy killed Fla gman George il. Tour.
telotte. flagman of train No. 80, who in
the faithful and loyal discharge of his
duty was endeavoring TO stop said
tram No. ,. and who at the time he was
struck was about six hundred feet in
the rear of his train. apparently en-
deavorlng to place torpedoes upon
track No. as warning against the
approach of said train No. 81
| feel that The Evening Star editorial
OF February %. in view of Coroner
MIX s verdict. is not up to the usual
and excellent standard of fairness
found in the editorial columns of your
paper. From the very moment MIR
Howard Elliott became chief executive
OF the New Haven he heightened the
time OF trains and introduced new rules
which We're accepted by the brother
hoods-all this in the interest of safe
ty-safety for the employees. safety for
the passengers and safety for all con-
cerned. No man has worked harder
than Mr.. Elliott to bring about the
highest standard of safety and eff
cheney on this road: no set of men
have tried TO work harder with him in
these efforts. No man and no set OF
men than those on this read were more
distressed and saddened by this acci-
dent 1t was due entirely to human
fallIbilitN. EDWARD G.. RIGGS
Executive Assistant
New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railgoad Company. New York
$I0.S5 to Jacksonville and Return.