New Britain herald., 1925-03-25
ROLLINS FOUND NOT GUILTY
Witnesses Say Car Which Tipped Over at Stanley and Chestnut Streets Was Going Fast--Engi- necrs on Stand.

Hungerford this morning, that Of Hartnstt being continued until Fri day, while Roulins was discharged. Expert testimony, as well as that of the passengers on the trip. was in- troduced by Prosecutor Joseph G. Woods in his attempt to show crim- inal negligence on thsspart of Hart nett, who has been employed by the Connecticut Co. for four years, but Attorney William F. Mangan. coun- sel for the defense, asked for strict interpretation Of the statute and the case was continued.
 Arthur w. Bacon, civil engineer, presented map of the scene of the wreck. Joseph r. Wadhams, civil engineer and assistant consulting engineer for the public utilities con- mission, testified that he had con- ducted an investigation on the spot before II o'clock and found the track, as well as the wheels and treads of the car in good condition. The marks in the road, Mir. Wad- hams said, indicated that the trolley travelled 50 or SO feet after leaving the rails. To be sure of safety, a car must round that curve at less than ten miles an hour, he went on. It might be safe at IS or 20 miles, but this would not be good prac- tice.
 Crew Statements Differ
 Mr. Wadhams said he had inter viewed Hartnett and Roulins and produced and read their signed statements. The motorman claimed in his that he knew the road, that the car had stopped at Church street and that the speed was about five to ten miles an hour as it approached the corner. He applied the brakes. but the car slid. He did not re- member hearing the buzzer calling for a stop at. the corner where the 1 accident happened.
 The statement of Roulins said that the car started fast from the cor ner of Stanley and Church streets and was going at Is to IT miles an hour, that the buzzer sounded and that the car was going faster than his regular motorman would have driven 1t.
 Sergeant William r. McCue testi- field that he had been one of the policemen answering the call to the scene and said that there had been squal of snow just previous to the call. Civil Engineer Tippett, employed by the Connecticut Co.,, had examined the scene the next day and corroborated Wedham's evil dence. w. H. Caldwell who laid out tho trolley line, said that the curve had been changed later, but stated that or 10 miles an hour was the speed limit for rounding that curve safely and that the car had jumped the rails at precisely the spot where this would be expected of one nov | ing at an excessive rate.
 As Chief Motorman Owen D. House was placed on the stand, Prosecuting Attorney Woods read from the regulations of the Connec- ticut Co. in an endeavor to show that Hartnett was breaking the com- pany's rules at the time of the &C., cldent. Attorney Mangan said that the rules did not apply, as they were printed in 1924 and Hartnett had passed his motorman's examination in 1920. House said that they were substantially the same at both times. Questioned by Mir. Mangan the chief motorman said that trol. ley such as used on the Hartford, New Britain line, if going at Is miles an'hour, could be brought to stor in about 100 feet. He would moi venture an opinion on how far II must go to attain that speed, but said it would pick up pretty fast.
 Car Under Full Power
 H. J. Connolly. master mechanic at the local car barns. said that upon investigation at the scene, ht had found the controller handle IT the first notch of the second series which indicated that the car hat been running under full power. Tho emergency brakes had been applied his examination revealed. w, E Guilty. master mechanic at the Yer. non street barn in Hartford, testi fled that the trolley was the same al that which had split the switch al Atwood's corner, Hartford. severa years ago and caused serious ac' cident.
 The state then commenced calling the passengers on the car. H. F. Jackson of S19 Chestnut street hat pushed the buzzer for the car tc stop at Stanley and Chestnut streets according to his own testimony bu claimed that the trolley had con tinued at full speed. Mir, Mangar asked whether the witness had heard the buzzer sound in the front of th' car, and Mir. Jackson, who Is some what deaf, finally admitted that ht could not positively state such to bt the fact.
 Passengers Say Car Swayc,l
 The swaying of the car on th' trip was mentioned by all the sue ceeding witnesses, Mrs. Nellie Dow