New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-20
Rhode Island Examiner
to Force Inquiry Into
Wreck Cause.
ENGINE BLAMED,
NOT ENGINEER
Decrepit Equipment. Is Reply to
Coroner-Sheriff Ready
TO Make Arrest.
From . s,.- Correspondent. Q, Tie tribunal

From star Correspondent ., The Iriounel
Westerly, r. l., April ls.-Dr. Mi
chael II. Scanlon. Medical Examiner for
the State Of Rhode Island. is a fighter.
In his library this afternoon there were
six small Scanlons. who have often
heard the tale OF their dads battles
in former days. Now he is lighting to
force an investigation into the real, UNI
DERIVING cause Of the Bradford wreck
on the New Haven Railroad.
In a letter sent 10 local newspaper
to-day By Coroner Everett Kingsley
there is plain hint for DR.. Scanlon
TO refrain from expressing his opin-
ions on the disaster until he is called
as q witness at the hearing in the town
hall.
Refuses to Keep Quiet.
How can the Coroner expect me TO
keep quiet when the law requires me
70 make an independent investigation
Of this wreck" asked the Medical Ex-
aminer with considerable show OF tight,
ing spirit. Under the Rhode Island
statute the Coroner has no right 10
start an inquest unless ! report indica-
tions Of criminal negligence. l nave
said that the dead engine on the locA,
train was the cause OF the wreck. 1
stand by every word OF my statement
Ii that engine had not broken down
there would have been plenty OF time
for the local, No. 633, 10 mako the SID
al ri ~
to the Gilt Edge Express.
81 don't believe that Charles II. Mans
field. engineer on the express, IL any
more 20 blame for the accident than L
am. When he says. and remember that
his fireman corroborates him, that the
distant signal WAS clear. he tells the
truth. in my opinion. Railroad men
have told me to-day that 1t is possible
FOR the distant and the homo signals
10 not work in unison.
81 place no direct blame on any per-
son in the tower. ! merely serve notice
that shall stick by Mansfield and that
| shall force an issue on that decrepit
engine on the local.
DR.. Scanlon says that In all prob.
ability the report Of the Coroner VIII
place responsibility on Mansfield.
If the Medical Examiner is not called
as a witness within the next few days
he declared that he will go TO Provi-
dence. where tomorrow joint inyesti-
cation on the wreck will be begun by
the Public Utilities Commission and
representatives OF the /. {. {.
Engineer sticks by Story.
Henry +. McManus, the young tower
man at Bradford. was the first witness
before Coroner Kingsley this morning.
His examination by Assistant Attorney
General Fred Otis lasted until noon.
Mansfield and his fireman, 5. i. King,
told their stories this afternoon.
Would we have wilfully run by
caution signal ," Mansfield asked in an
swer 10 questions about his testimony.
Don't you suppose ! think as much OF
my neck as any one else does Of theirs!
That distant signal was green. IL gave
me a right to come down the block
without sbating speed.
Sheriff John K. Wilcox said that he
was attending the hearing, ready to
place under arrest any persons judged
responsible by the Coroner. Unless
special grand jury IL summoned. the
wreck investigation by the courts Will
20 over until September.
"Some one erred" says an editorial on
the wreck in to-day's issue Of THE
Westerly Sun" THE train crash at
Bradford struck home. This commu-
nifty does not ask for revenge. IL does
not want IT, That will not bring the
dead back to life. II simply asks that
II there has been criminal negligence
the responsibility be fixed in such a
way that the human fraites Of those
whom we are obliged 10 trust may be
less liable 20 90 wrong