The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-18
B. R. 7. CASE MAY
REACH JURY TO-DAY
T. F. Blewitt, Accused of Re-
sponsibflity for Wreck,
Defends MotOrman.
COMPETENT, HE ASSERTS
Superintendent Admits Viola
ton Of Rules in Allowing
Lewis to Operate Train.

The testimony Of Thomas F. Blewitt.
Superintendent OF the Southern Division
Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company,
who is on trial in the Supreme Court OF
Mineola on an indictment charging him
with granddaughter In connection with
the B. r. T. wreck that killed nine y- two
persons at the Malbone street tunne! Last
November. was completed yesterday. az
ternoon. District Attorney Harry f.
Lewis told Justice seeger that the prose-
cution would have but one or two wit
nesses in rebuttal. and 1t il probable
that the case viii 60 to the Jury by noon
to-day.
Mr.. Blswitt was on the witness stand
for i've hours. His testimony dealt
largely with the question Of the compe-
tency Of Edward Luciano (Anthony
Lewis) the motorman OF the wrecked
train. The contention of the defence is
that Luciano was a competent and eX-
perienced motorman. and that Blewitt
was not to blame for the wreck. Blew
tits testimony that the motorman was
capable of handling a train was corrob-
Grated by that of Milton +. Bauman. a
motor switchman on the B. r. T, who
said Luciano was experienced.
Tells of safety Devices. -
Blewitt testified on direct examination
that he had done everything possible TO
safeguard the lives OF passengers riding
on r. r. r. trains. When Questioned as
to the signals that were on the east
bound tracks when the wreck occurred
he said there were yellow lights and a
yellow nag. meaning "caution--go
slowly" and that in addition to that "six
miles an hour stsnboards were placed
alongside the tracks where motormen
could see them. and that bulletins had
been issued to motormen calling atten-
tion to the condition of the tracks. He
also said he had selected Luciano and
others from among several hundred ap-
plicants az being most fitted to become
motoruen
Blewltt testified that for two years
he had seen Luciano working as signal
man, passing signals and going back
and forth over the lines; az train and
crew dispatcher. assigning men to
trains and getting trains out Of the sta
tons on time ; taking care OF the subway
yard at Thirty-sixth street and acting
as switchman. as towerman and finally
as pilot motorman to 60 out oyer the
lines with men not acquainted with the
routea T.,
=, Admits. Violation of Rules.
|''1 knew It was a violation OF the COM
pany's rules to allow Luciano to switch
and operate trains" ne said, but owing
to the shortage of men the company
could not adhere strictly to that regula-
ton"
why did you choose train despatchers
for this work - he was asked
He answered that they were the best
possible type because OF their experience
In handling men and equipment, On
ne was asked by Dis
trict Attorney Lewis:
Did you put Luciano through the
regular exa minstion OF motormen?"
NOS
"Did you know on November that
he had not been put through the regular
NO. | was out OF town on my yaca-
ton and such matters would have been
seen to in my absence by the train
master. knew Luciano had been in
and broken in. I considered
that he had completed what was re-
quired. knew beyond a easonable
doubt that the man was competent"