Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-04

1 jury, reconvened in Westerly, Tues day, the ninth day of the trial of Charles H. Mansfield. on two charges of manslaughter in connection with the wreck at Bradford station, on the evening of April IT last. The state claims that the Gilt Edge rushed into the block with the distant and all other signals set against the train, while the defence claims the opposite, and that the distant signal was clear and that the second home signal was set against the train just as the sig nal was reached and too late to pre- vent the crash. which resulted when the Gilt Edge was at diminished speed.
 While being cross examined Mon day by Attorney John J. Fitzgerald, George Anderson, who has been main- tainer of these signals for the past six years. testified that he had known that particular distant signal at Bradford to "stock''-that is not to re- spond to the usual manipulation and that he had known that signal not to work correctly within a. year. This is considered a vital point in the case, and is made emphatic as coming from a witness for the prosecution. Attor- ney Fitzgerald has made a careful study of all that pertains to railroad signals as is shown by his familiari- ty with the, minutest details, fot only in the tower work, but also in the
 
 the signals. and with the book of rules, as demonstrated in his cross -examin- ation of witnesses for the state.
 It is said about the court house that the evidence for .fhe state will be all not believed the case will be given to the jury before the latter part of next week.
 George A. Anderson. the signal main. tainer, who was on the witness stand when court adjourned Monday, re- sumed his testimony when court open ed Tuesday, and the cross-examination by Attorney Fitzgerald was continu ed. With train in block and to be put on the siding, the distant and first home signal must have been thrown back to normal, said the witness and then added that the switch was op- erated by the second home signal at normal, or as a matter of fact the switch could be operated regardless of other signals, with the second home at normal. Witness did not know who was towerman at Wood River on the night of the wreck, but that par ticular trick belonged to man named Ross. Objection was raised to a se- ries of queries as to whether Ross continued in that position, and the objections were sustained. The wit ness said Ross resided in Wood River at time of the wreck. Objection was sustained as to whether Ross was now resident of Wood River. Witness did say that he did not know whether Ross had removed from Wood River and that he knew nothing of Ross whereabouts
 Upon redirect examination by As- sIstant Attorney General Phillips, the witness said the first home and dis tant rust be at normal to get an un- lock from Wood River and that un- der such conditions train would not have a clear to Bradford The con- struction of the key to the gravity box would indicate tumblers in the lock. The key was produced which showed four prongs and four slots. The gravity boxes are of iron and are bolt ed into the foundation of iron. and at tached to the machine. in the tower houses, and the foundation is solid It would be impossible to move the gravity box by a kick. The arma- ture in the distant signal is held by its own weight, and is quite heavy.
 There was one occasion when the distant signal was at clear when it should have been at danger. He made an investigation and found that it was due to the dropping of a Western Union telegraph wire about midway of the distant and the first home sig fIGi- l lie l6leSGaDn wire was DrOk- en and dropped in the control wire to the distant signal. and closed the con- tact to the distant signal Witness said he discovered the broken wire within ten minutes after the defect was reported. When witness remov- ed the fallen wire the distant signal went back to normal. With circuit broken, the towerman could not set the signal distance at clear. Unless the distant signal was at 50 degrees the green or clear light signal would not show, and to get this the lever must be in contact at the tower The locks in the Bradford and Wood River gravity boxes are identical and witness was in charge of these boxes.
 By MT. FitzqeraId-The witness said that the motor at the distant signal the tower provides the current to give the contact. It depends entirely up- on the motor as to the movement of the. blade, after the contact as given by the lever in the tower. The tower lever to the distant signal must make a complete stroke before it can be latched. The machine, that is the lev CT outfit, is fastened to a wooden frame, and to this machine is attached the gravity boxes and the solid foundation, and all affixed to the wooden frame The passing trains cause vibration in
 
 boxes could not be moved as they were firmly fixed. The gravity box at Wood River could be so manipulated as to give the advance clear at Wood River. The switch at Bradford could be used with the second home signal, at red. and first trains could be put on- to siding.
 A towerman can let a train by the first home and onto the siding without putting the first home lever back and latching. The control wire to the dis tant signal is not on a pole line, but the wires to the relay are. The wires from the distant signal to the relay is on a pole line. There Is no control wire to the distant signal but the telegraph wire fell on the motor con- trol wire At the time witness saw distant signal out of order, there was no train in the block. The wire Is on the same pole with the Western Union line and the sagging of the tel egraph wire might be enough to come in contact with the srgnal wires and could be blown on and off the signal wire and operate the distant signal. The witness testified that the gravity boxes were of the same construction in all towers He ODened these hoxes