The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-10-26
HEARD ENGINE
WHISTLE OFTEN
Before Train Struck Bar
dis Automobile, Killing
Two Occupants
TESTIFIED STATION
AGENT E. j. ABEL
Automobile Ran Up on Plat
form; One Rear Wheel
Went Off

| Edward j. Abel, station agent at
Riverton, was the principal witness for
the defense this morning in the $4,000
suit of d. r. Lefebvre VS.. Central Yer
mont Railway company in Washington
county court. Mr. Abel stated on direct
examination that he began work Nov.
30, 1921, and was on duty at the time
Of the accident in which. Mrs. Lefebvre
and daughter, wife and daughter of the
plaintiff, were killed ON June IL, last.
The train which struck the automobile
of George Bardis, in which the two
women were riding with others, was
the daily south bound milk train. The
accident occurred about 4:52 p. M, the
witness stated.
He was on the station platform and
heard a succession of whistles Gino
Canale was with him. He went out
when he heard the whistles and saw
the train between the curve approach
ing the station from the north and the
whistling post to the north, but south
of the curve. He stayed on the plat
form until the train had passed. He
watched il approach and stated it was
at Davis brothers steneshed just as
the Bardis automobile was turning to
20 up onto the station platform. Later
he explained that the locomotive was
just south OF the south end of Davis
brothers derrick at that time.
The car drove up on the platform
and the right rear wheel went of the
timberr and down by the track. Part
of the train struck the car, but he did
not what part. The right front wheel
broke off and rolled down the platform
toward where he was standing The
car shifted a little toward the south
east when it was struck.
The witness said Ne saw the people
who were killed under the cars. He saw
someone ON the rear end of the train
az it passed. There was no one In the
automobile when he reached il. He rec
ognized George Bardis and Miss Anna
Wilfore near the ear. He estimated the
time before the train pulled out at As
minutes or an hour. The automobile
was put up onto the platform by him
and others, and remained there until
the following Sunday afternoon.
The gear shift lever of the car,
Buick, was to the left and forward
when he noticed it shortly after the
accideRf, he stxt~d. II appeared later
that this would be second speed for
ward on Buick
Mr.. Abel examined the premises and
noted the view TO the north from points
east Of the track, he stated. He stated
there was one fiat car with few pieces
of stone on it north of the highway on
the sidetrack east Of the main line. |
This car Was under Davis brothers der
rick South OF the highway and east |
Of the station on the side track were |
two coal cars and one fat car. The cars
south of the highway had been there |
for three weeks. he said. There was
only one car north Of the highway on
the side track.
Attorney William McFeeters for the
defense then asked whether anything |
on the platform had ever been
struck by train. George L. Hunt for
The plaintiff objected and the court |
ruled the question out. Attorney J. w.
for the defense thought that |
he witness. George Bardis, driver of
he automobile, had testified that the
ar had all four wheels on the station
platform when the train struck it, but
he court held differently.
On cross-examination by Attorney I
Hunt, Mr.. Abel said that he was stand
ng on the station platform about three
eet outside the door when he first saw
he train. He thought ii whistled four
" FIVE times. He heard the first whis-
lie before he saw the train and did not
,now where IL was the last time it
The wbistling was some long
lasts and some short ones, he stated.
fe would not say but that the trsin
vas at the bridge north of the station
he last time il whistled, he said. He
id not recognize the train men on the
ear end of the train, nor see what they
gere doing, he said.
Beside the wheel of the automobiles. ,
piece of iron from the side of the
ender was left on the platform after ,
be train had gone through.
He did not remember. he stated, /,
rhen he first told anyone about the !
osition Of the gear shift in the auto
lobile after the accident.
Counsel for the plaintiff rested their
sse Wednesday afternoon. and the
of the railroads case be- 4
an. The first two witnesses for the
efense were Franklin III. Dewart of
arlington. civil engineer. and Stan
y S. Russell. claim agent for the
entral Vermont.
a