Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-14
NEGLIGENCE IS
CHARGED IN AIR
MAIL SERVICE
Gross Misnlanagement is
Charged by Eversole in
Long Report.

CH1C3SO, May lS.-SpecnC charges
that thirteen men have beer killed in
he termed gross misrnanagement, in
efficiency and criminal negligence by
officials" were made by Lieutenant c.
e. Eversole in testimony presented to
the government today through a fed
eral committee which has been con-
Quoting a secret investigation Of air
mail conditions.
Lieutenant ! Eversole's testimony,
which has extended over several days.
made statement of more than 1907
600 words which he Signed and swore
to today. He was discharged from
the air mail service Tuesday, the day
after his first testimony was given be-
fore the committee. Members Of the
committee said today they had ap-
pealed to Washington for his rein
statement.
Charges Are Confirmed.
Included in the evidence were affi-
davits from several pilots and mech
anics now in the service, all of which
confirmed Lieutenant Eversole's
charges, and the mute evidence of a
statement written by Pilot j. r
Christensen previous to his death ir
a fall at Cleveland few weeks, ago
Christensen is one Of the men whose
death Lieutenant Eversole lays .: *
Negligence by air mail ,officiala
The transcript OF Eversole's testi.
nony referred only briefly to the
charges made known yesterday that
air mail field officials here were
drunk while on duty and staged wild
parties which incapacitated them for
duty.
1t dealt chiefly with the deaths and
accidents alleged to have been due tc
inefficiency by the men in. charge and
with remedial recommendations.
The thirteen men killed and the
reasons ascribed by Eversole's evi.
dence for their death follows:
Death of Carl Smith.
Carl Smith, pilot. killed in q
fall at Elizabethtown, N. j., said tc
have been sent into airmail service
with inefficient training and to have
Wright plane in civilian life and was
assigned by mail officials to De
Haviland w. a type Of ship Of which
he knew nothing. Given no instruc.
tions as to how to handle a De
Haviland. according to evidence pre-.
sented by Eversole and confirmed by
affidavits from acluaintances Of
Smiths.
Death of Pilot Stoner.
AlOL oIOucI. Sdlu u nave USVI
forced to fly in dense fog against hi.
Judgment and that of other pilots
Hit tree at Goshen, Ind. wher
visibility was so bad he could not see
the ground.
Death Of Pilot McNIullfn.
3.-Pilot Bryan McMullin. killed ir
a fall at Batavia, Ill. Had faller
three days previously and was or,
dered by physicians not to fly unit
completely well. Was forced to re-
sumo duty by local officials. accord
ing to the testimony. despite objec.
tions from doctors and pilots. Sen,
up in bad flying weather, it is alleged
Death of Pilot Sherlock.
4.-Pilot Sherlock. Killed wher
plane hit a smokestack near landine
field at Newark. n. J. Eversole's afYi.
davtts alleged field was too small fo,
safe landing by type Of ship Sherlock
was compelled to fly. that approaches
spite numerous protests by pilots anG
that finally became necessary to use
low speed ships in order to make 9
safe landing.
Death Of Miller and Pearson.
and S.-Pilot Max Miller and
Mechanician Pierson killed in fal
at Morristown. n. ]. Were fyine
junker type of German built all meta
monoplane which contained numer.
out gas leaks and which had been or.
dered to New York for repairs Mill
er and Pierson were alleged to have
been compelled to take the machine
up despite fact that it then was en-
route to repair shops.
Death Of Stevens and Thomas.
and S.-Pilots Stevens and
Thomas were forced to f1y plane
which had the same defects as that
In which Miller and Pierson fell and
no attempt was made to remedy these
defects despite the deaths of Miller
and Pterson, it was charged. They
were killed in fall in Ohio.
Death Of Rowe, Carroll and Hnl
8. 10 and 11.-Piiots .Rowe, Carroll
and Mechanician Hill killed In junker
planes at Lacrosse. Wis. Evidence
presented by Eversole, including affi-
davits from witnesses Of fall, alleged
that false reports as to the cause OF
the fall were made to Washington.
It was charged that q crew OF mech
antcs. all af whom were intoxicated,
overhauled the ship at the, Chicago
field and made certain mechanical
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