Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-26
Did Fight Occur
 in Engine Cab?
BETWEEN ENGINEER CURTIS AND
 SWEENEY, THE THIRD MAN
CORONER MIX PUZZLED
Only scufIe or That Curtis Dropped
 Dead of Heart Disease Can Account
 for His Running Past Caution Signal.

New Haven, Feb. 25-Coroner Eli Mfx's probe into the Milford wreck today resolved itself into an effort to solve the mystery of Engineer w. R. CUrtiss' cab.
 In the cab of Train No. were En- gineer Curtiss, Fireman Edward Mo Ginnis and Harry Sweeney.
 The coroner today learned, that on ly two or three minutes before the wreck affairs seemed to be normal in the cab. But what happened after that is as much a mystery to the cor oner as to everyone else. And 1t may never be cleared up.
 Apparently the three men weren't paying much attention to each other when last seen alive
 This noon Coroner Mix consented to talk, to a limited extent
 Three Persons in Cab.
 MT. Mix said that this morning he examined witness who was at the Woodmont tower when Train No. passed there, south bound. This wit ness saw a man in citizens clothes, presumably Sweeney, sitting in the fireman's seat; Fireman AIcGinnis was on the left side of the engine, leaning out of the window. On the right hand side the witness saw man in work Ing clothes in the engineers seat; this man apparently being Curtis. The fireman, in overalls, was looking into the landscape, and when passing the tower he put up his hand in greeting to the witness witness also shook his arm, as a signal of greeting. Thus it is established that three persons were in the cab when the train passed WoOdmont tower.
 This witness also looked at the first signal of the block This signal was set against Curtis.
 Signal Plainly Visible.
 This signal is plainly visible from IVn0nrnnnt indications Curtis did not slow speed, kept on going just as if no signal | were within a hundred miles. Except for the fireman the 0ther two figures | in that cab sat as still as if carved out of stone or dead.
 The coroner also examined W. B. Bfandt, conductor of Curtis train. | MT. Mix did not care to divulge one particle of his testimony, evidently i considering it of the highest import 1 ance. When asked whether the con | ductor knew that Sweeney was rid | ing in the cab, the coroner declined | to answer.
 Asked as to his activity today. the coroner replied, that he examined one witness concerning the air hose, and | that he expects to finish his inquiry within an hour or two.
 Why Sweeney Was in Cab is Not Clear.
 How Sweeney came to New Haven | from Stamford and why he was in ! the cab going back to Stamford was not made clear thus far. The report runs that Sweeney was engaged as a coupler of electric en- zines at Stamford. At a. m the | day of the wreck he went to work as usual, but at S.15 o'clock he presented | his resignation to the foreman. Then Sweeney came to New. Haven It is | not certain what he sought here, but | 1t might be that he applied for a lob in the New Haven terminal. was turn ed down and rode back with Curtis. Coroner in Dark on Many Points. | In fact the coroner professed that | he was completely in the dark on l these points.
 l Curtis Had Fine Record. Curtis had a fine seven-year record | back of him; he always spoke well of | the road, and it is said that Sweeney didn't. It is likely that Sweeney ex- pressed his soreness over being turn | ed down. that Curtis called Sweeney to account, and that in an instant af- ter passing the WoodmOnt tower there was a fight in progress. Only fight or that Curtis had dropped dead in his seat of heart disease can ex- plain that he ran past the caution sig nal, killed a human signal, FIagman TOurtelOtte, then ignored the danger | signal and a mile further on crashed l into the rear of Train 79.