The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-21
B. R. 7. DIRECTORS
ACCEPT NO BLAME
Witnesses Say They Are Ig-
norant Of How or Why the
Fatal Wreck Occurred.
EXPERT TELLS OF CURVE
Mayor Attempts to Show That
Change in Plans Caused
Train to Sway.

Precisely as in the wide American
land the supply OF buffers pantries Is
conspicuously in excess of the number
OF working buffers, SO in the scheme Of
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit system
there appears a plenitude OF sitting d.
rectors, but not one who will concede
that he ever directs.
District Attorney Lewis of KINGS
county, continuing yesterday the In
ouiry into the wreck on the Brighton
Beach line which on November 1 cost
the lives OF eighty-nine men and women.
called four OF the corporations dlrec-
tors TO the stand, bdt was unable to
gleRm from any OF them who. IL not
they. controls the policy of the system
ana is responsible for Its acts and de-
hciencies. There were times when Mr..
Lewis had TO admit that certlin mat
tiers and replies bewildered HIN since he
was no railroad man. At these moments
he was informed and set straight by
Mayor Hylan, who is presiding at the
inquiry as a city Magistrate.
Col. Timothy s. Williams. president
OF tho B. r. T.. and who as principal
witness at the hearing preceding yester-
days, supplied a memorable example
OF the capable use Of vague words. did
NOT resume the stand. With lawyer
nc either elbow he sat with the specta-
tors and made notes, gazing at the wit
nesses through his glasses when he was
not purring with his advisers.
OF the directors Walter s. Benedict
was the first one called. When not d.
recting he is a working insurance man.
a member OF the firm OF Benedict & Ben
edict. which looks after certain of the
n. r. T. policies.
Couldn't Understand the Mayor.
Mr.. Benedict is a director of the New
York Consolidated Railroad. which the
parent corporation controls, and of four
Of its other subsidiaries. He once had
ehare of stock in one of them, the
Coney Island and Gravesend, but could
not recall yesterday how he came by
IL or who paid for II or whether he owns
Z still. He had some recollection OF re-
ceiving dividends on II
We'll. what do you do when you 70
TO directors meetingsT'
7 act as a director"
what more especially do you do?'
81 have voted"
'AOn WHAT"
II am unable to give a definite an
swef as to that"
isn't IT a fact that Col. Williams di.
reefs the whole policy Of the Console
datedT" Il
II would not say So
''well. who runs It anyway"
81 believe the r. r. T does"
BY Magistrate Hylan: @. isn't II the
general understanding that Col. Will
Jams directs the policies Of the road and
IS Its actual headT'
A. ''Your Honor. don't think un-
derstand what you mean by the word
policy"
II as his Judgment that the roads he
helps to direct control 200 miles OF track
and District Attorney Lewis had made
1t clear TO him that they controlled but
100 miles.
Mr. Chauncey Also Vague.
C. W. Chauncey Is chairman OF the
board Of directors OF the Mechanics
Bank OF Brooklyn and a director also OF
the New York Consolidated company
But he testified that he was not a stock
holder in II, had no financial interest in
IL and never knew IL the directors made
a tour OF inspection OF the tunnel where
the wreck occurred.
Now. Just who runs the consOli-
dated?'
ct believe the B. r IT,
And why do you believe that?'
We'll, they own all tho stock. so I
suppose they run the company Also
do you know who voted to make you
director7"
''I think I was invited by Col. WILL
Jams, bat 1t may have been some one
else. Once / offered a resolution at a
board meeting. Some tipe within the
last three years"
Charles A. Body. president OF the
Peoples Trust Company, IL another OF
the Consolidated directors. He was
a sked the extent of his activities as a
railroad director.
Il attend meetings about once a
month. am no. a stockholder and have
no financial interest"
Have you ever at meeting made
any recommendation as to the conduct
Of the road?'
Never"
who, 20 far as you know. shapes the
policies of the road?"
II should say possibly Col. Williams
and the executive committee Of the
b. r. T."
Engineer Tells of Curvs. .,
". s. Menden. chief engineer OF the
ant TO Col williams and still another Of
the Consolidated's directors
"IIow many salaries do you receiver
"Only one, for my services as chief
engineer and from the b. r. 7"
sAnd what do you do a. directorr
Il attend meetings"
who operates the roadsf"
mfr. Dempsey. vice-president of the
b r. T.. I believe"
What have you seen him DOR
1T is a long story. have seen him
CONSULT with his subordinates. Mr..
Blewitt and others"
Who are his supsriorS?
7 don't know"
rs Mr.. Hallock. a. president OF the
Consolidated"
IT think 30 in once. haye heard
them speak together OF the safeguarding
o. revenues and the condition OF the
road"
Tho witness then told what he knew
OF the strike which preceded the wreck
He had been called In conference with
Williams and Dempsey the night before
tho strike and had heard Dempsey say
that he thought he could operate the
road with what men he would have on
hand after the men who meant to strike
had gone out.
Mayor scents Cause of Accident.
Mayor Hylan took the witness In hand
when he began TO tell how after a draw
ing, prepared under his direction as
engineer. and calling for 1--WE inch
elevation in the outer rail- Mt the point
here the wreck occurred had been APP
nroved by the Public Service Commits