Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-05-14
Thirteen Men Have Been
Killed by Mismanagement,
lneff.iciency and NegIi.
genCe, Says EverSole.
FLYERS AFFIDAVITS
BACK UP HIS CHARGES
Witness Has Been Dis
charged From the Service
Following His First Testi-
mony Given Tuesday.


cific charges that thirteen
men have been killed in the
air mail service because of
what he termed gross mis-
management, inefficiency
and criminal negligence" by
officials, were made by Lieu
tenant C. C. Eversole, in tes-
timony presented to the gov
ernment today through a
federal committee which has
been conducting a secret in
vestigation of air mail con-
ditions.
Lieutenant Eversole's testimony
which has extended over several
days made a statement of more
than 100000 Hords. He was dis
charged from the aerial mail serv-
ice Tuesday, the day after his first
testimony was given before the
committee. Members of the COM
mittee today said they had ap-
pealed to Washington for his re-
instatement
Included In the evidence were
affidavits from several pilots and
mechanics now in the service, all
of whom confirmed Lieutenant Ey-
ersOle's charges, and the mute evi-
dence of statement written by
Pilot j. +. Christensen, previous TO
his death in a fall at Cleveland a
few weeks ago. Christensen Is one
Of the mon whose death Lieutenant
Eversole lays to alleged negligence
by air mail officials.
The transcript of Eversole's tes-
timony referred only briefly to the
charges mado known yesterday
that air mail officials were drunk
while on duty and staged wild par
ties, which incapacitated them for
duty. 1t dealt chiefly with deaths
and accidents alleged to have been
due to inetticienCy by the men in
charge and with remedial dcCom-
mendations.
The Thirteen Men Killed.
The thirteen men killed and tho
reasons ascribed by EyersoIes evil
dence for their deaths follow:
Carl Smith. pilot Killed in
fall at ElizabethtoWn, n. j., said
to have been sent into service with
inefficient training and to have
been assigned to a de Haviland
four, of which he knew nothing.
2-Pilot Stoner, said to have
been forced to fly in a dense fog
against his judgment and that of
other pilots. Hit j tree at Goshen,
Ind.
3-Pilot Bryan McMuhin. Killed
in fall at Batavia, Ill. Had fallen
three days previously and was or
dered by physicians not to fly again
until completely well.
4-Pilot Sherlock. Killed when
plane hit smoke stack near landing
field at Newark, n. J, Eversoles
affidavits alleged field was too
small for safe landing by type of
ship Sherlock was compelled to fly.
and 6-Pilot Max Miller and
Mechanician Pierson. Killed in|
fall at Morristown, n. ]. Were fly
ing Junker type of German built
all-metal monoplane, which con-
tanned numerous gas leaks.
7 and S--Pilot Stevens and
Thomas. Were forced to fly a
plane which had the same defects
as that in which Miller and Pier
son fell, and no attempt was made
to remedy these defects. They
We're killed in fall in Ohio.
., 10 and 1l-Pilots Rowe, Car
roll and Mechanician Hill; Killed
in Junker plane at La Crosse, Wis.
Evidence presented by Eversole,
uffidavits by witnesses of
fall. alleged that false reports as
to the cause of the fall were made
to Washington. 1t was charged
that a crew OF mechanics, all Of
whom were intoxicated, overhauled
tho ship at Chicago field and made
certain mechanical changes which
were never tested before the ship |
was put into duty
12-Pilot Stewart. Killed in fail |
near Minneapolis. Officials said |
Stewart was subject to fainting |
spells and undoubtedly tainted in
ship, thus losing control,
13-J. p. Christensen. Head of |
the Air Mail Pilots and considered |
one OF the best pilots in the serv-
ice. Christensen, it was alleged, |
had bought home in Chicago and |
then was ordered east. He refused |
to go east and was tod he would |
be discharged if he maintained his
stand, it was said. He finally went
TO Washington and obtained per-
to remain on routes out Of
Chicago, but, it was charged, was
forced to take many hazards. The
lay he was killed he was ordered
up in bad weather against his pro-
est and given to understand that
ne must get the mail to Cleveland
Dr. lose his job. according to the
He landed at Sandus'