New-York tribune., 1918-11-26
Grand Jury Starts
Inquiry to Place
B. r. +. Crash Blame
High Officials To Be Called
Despite Refusal to Sign
Immunity Waivers

The Kings County Grand Jury began
an investigation yesterday of the wreck
of Brighton Beach train in the NAL
bone Avenue tunnel November l which
cost almost 100 lives. Ut was reported
that District Attorney Lewis would ask
for the Indictment Of high officials OF
the B. R. I. as we'll as those more
closely connected with the accident.
Eighteen witnesses went into the
Jury room during the day. Some were
passengers on the wrecked train, others
were relatives of persons killed when
the ancient wooden cars of the B. Il. I.
were smashed to splinters in the black
depth of the concrete tunnel.
This investigation of the grand jury
is entirely separate from the John
Doe" proceedings in which Mayor
Hylan is sitting as magistrate, and
in which Edward Luciano, the strike
breaker motorman who drove the
wrecked train, is one of the defendants.
At the conclusion of this hearing-not
far distant-it is believed that Mayor
Hylan will issue warrants.
One of the witnesses believed to
have been before the grand jury yes
terday was Miss Santa Calabria,
twenty-five year old. She is said to
have repeated the story she told re-
Gently to District Attorney Lewis. Her
sister-in-law, Mrs. Rose Calabria, was
killed before her eyes. Miss Calabria
lost consc Nusness and did not recover
her senses for several days. She was
a
shaken and with nerves shattered.
1t is not likely that the grand jury
will hear additional evidence until to-
morrow, as the entire staff of Dis
trict Attorney Lewis's office is to de-
vote to-day to getting the hearing be-
fore Mayor Hyian into its final stages.
Among those subpGnaed to appear
to-day at the Hyian hearing were
Vice President John J. Dempsey, the
operating head of the B. r. t., and his
immediate subordinate, Division Super
intendent Thomas Biewett. At the last
session attorneys for both men told
District Attorney Lewis their clients
would not sign wavers of immunity
and Mr.. Lewis said that under no cir
cumstances would they be allowed to
testify without signing such waivers
To- day, it is understood, the District
Attorney plans to put both men on
in person before Mayor Hylan to sign
immunity waivers, or else to sign them
and testify.
Others subpenaed for to-day are
Nicholas Brady, j director of the B
R. r. and commonly supposed to own
the largest block of stock; H. G. Duval
also director; Colonel Timothy Will.
Jams. president; J. H. Bennington, sec
retary; C. D. Meneeley, treasurer.
Information was given to the Dis
trict Attorney yesterday concerning the
activities of B. r. T. claim agents ir
obtaining hurried money settlements
from victims of the wreck. One such
case that is being investigated is that
of young girl who, believing herself
uninjurcd. was persuaded to accept s7i
and to sign a document freeing the
company from any future claims fol
damages.
Saturday she rode through the NAL
bone tunnel The lights went out while
the car was in the middle of the con
crete tube The girl became hysterical
and. according to information given te
the District Attorney, now is in grave
danger of losing her mind