The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-19
President of Company Throws
No Light on Personal
Responsibility.
INQUIRY YIELDS NOTHING
Mayor Sent Collect Telegram
of Protest to Head Of
Corporation.

District Attorney. has undertaken his
hardest task in trying to determine per-
sonal responsibility for the wreck OF
November on the Brighton Beach limo
was left with the persons who heard the
u. r. T. president. Timothy S. Williams
teetify far nearly two hours in Mayor
Hylan's John Doe inquiry in the Kings
unity court house yesterday.
At the start Mr. Lewis seemed to have
some hope OF getting an admission sug-
gestinE. however vaguely. that Col. Will
Jams as the president Of the holding
company might be, in a manner OF
ppeaking. responsible for the conduct OF
The family OF eleven subsidiaries. But
politely and quietly, In varied unruffled
ways. the Colonel said NO"
His only statement OF great value TO
the investigators concerned not himself
hut John J. Dempsey. vice-president and
transportation superintendent Of the
New York Consolidated Railroad. which
nperates the Brighton Beach line. Mr..
Dempsey, said Col. williams. has solo
control OF operation.
This information was especially intel
esting in view Of the fact that although
Col. williams readily waived any right
&c immunity from prosecution when he
took the stand Mr.. Dempsey through
his lawyer has declined to do so and
therefore will not be permitted to testify
before the Mayor. The same Is true of
Thomas F. Blewitt, superintendent Of
the southern DIVISION, on which the
wreck occurred, and who according to
witnesses. authorized the entrusting OF
The Brighton Beach train 10 an unquali- !
fed motorman, Anthony Lewis. Mr..
dempsey Is Mr. Blewitts immediate SUI |
perior.
Mayors Protest sent Collect |
A flock of attorneys representing this |
or that company, this or that individual
ar group. including Meier Steinbrink, |
counse. for y. r. T. directors. sat within |
ne rail. Mr.. Steinbrlnk after hours d. |
vulged a bit OF news that amused those |
"ho heard It. This was that the long |
telegram sent by Mayor Hylan to Col |
Williams on October 81, the day before f!
the H. r. T. strike and the wreck. rak |
ing him for not obeying the decree" Of |
settlement with the brotherhood Of Lo- |
connective Engineers. was marked col. |
'ect." SO the telegram cost Col. will !
ANS $3.50
Col. Williams on the stand admitted |
u1equivocally that he was president of !
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company,
which he said held stock Of other com.
ranies and assists in furnishing capital |
w the New York Consolidated Railroad
ne only n dirarinr =
'ng John II. Hallock, who. as Col VIII, |
iams had learned from the neyspapers
was not q stakeholder
Don't you know that Mr. HaIlocl< Is
4 dummy president? ," the District Al.
torney asked
don't know what you mean"
Don't you know he gives but half an |
nonr month to the company and has
no relation to II except that he Is des-
'gnated as an officer?''
Mr. HaIlock Not on Salary.
oh, 7 think he Is something more
man that. He shows a great interest
heart" NJ
terest?" '''' III
ful spirit"
Does he know anything of the COM
Pany's operation?"
Il think he does not"
What salary does he get,"
tnlnk none. Sometimes men take
more interest than when paid. He is a
generous and wholehearted man.
Does he take the same interest in
me company's affairs as YOU do In the
r. r. TT"
mo, not 80 keen"
Does as he is told?' inquired NTayor
Hyian. "'0'
81 didn't say that" Col. Williams
smoothly replied
The witness counted on his fingers and
answered Eleven" when Mr.. Lewis
asked him how many companIes u,ere
In the B. r. T. system. He said he was
director In all except the South BROOK,
lyn railway Company. II appeared that
MS activity as regards the Consolidated
vas no more than that Of any other d.
rector. He said: II attend meetings.
offer such advice and suggestions as &C. |
cur to me. offer resolutions ~ have
any and generally do the work OF a
director"
ia Mr.. Hallock what on would call
ngurehead?" the District Attorney
ked. ''
II would not want to characterize it
that way"
Mr. Lewis wanted to know the nature
Col WilllamsR duties as president NJ
the Il. r. T, The reply was:
II have the appointment OF denart-
'nent heads not elected by the directors
ana ! have the general supervision Of
tho operating companies and TO see that
their welfare Is conserved Az presidant
or the u. r. T. 7 represent nearly ALI
the companies whose stock is owned I
have closer connection with the Nev.
YORK Municipal Railway Companv he !
'anse that has agreed with the CITY 70
operate the subways. The Municipal has
assigned this operation, with the con-
rent OF the city. TO the New York Com
to!tdated Railroad. As principa, stock
h"lder think % per cent. the r. r. T
has more or less Of a dominating innu.
once over the affairs of the New yorl,
Consolidated, for it gets its returns from,
the operating receipts"
Hnsy ON Responsibilities.
Col Williams insisted that the on,,
official head of the Consolidated was
SIR. Hallock. but admitted that Mr.
Dempsey had been elected vice-presidant
OF the company on his, Col. WiIliams's
own recommendation. And TO wbor
the District Attorney pursued. was Mr.
Dempsey responsible as vice-presIdent,
TO the latent powers of the nres
'dent was the witnesss solemn reply.
lie said that the CoasolIdated's lines
we're in charge OF Mr.. Dempsey. so far
as operation was concerned. and that
Division SuDpriptendap, DIo,,t.. 80