New Britain herald., 1925-03-13
P. U. (. Announces Result of Inquiry Into Derailing When Trol- ley Crashed Over On Its Side.
Tracks in Good Condition And Supply of Sand O. k.-Hartnett Disregard ed Stop Signals, Prober Says.
Special to the Herald.)


 Hartford, March 13.-In his find ing on the case of the trolley acci- dent at the corner of Chestnut and Stanley streets, New Britain. on February 12, complete copy of which was obtained by the Herald today, Joseph P. Wadhams, assistant engineer of the public utilities com mission, expresses the belief that the speed at which the car was operated was responsible for the crash. Six teen people were hurt.
 In his conclusion, MT. Wadhames says:
 "In my opinion, this accident was caused on account of excessive speed at which the operator was running his car approaching Chestnut street just before the derailment. x X X Furthermore the motorman did not have his car under control, as is evil denced by the fact that he received one or more signals to stop for pas sengers wishing to alight at Chest nut street, which signal indications he apparently disregarded."
 The conductor, John Roulin, and the motorman, Robert Hartnett, are now at liberty on bonds of Si,000 following their arrest on charge of criminal negligence. They appear ed in New Britain police court on February B and the hearing was postponed.
 The report of Engineer Wadhams follows:
 The following is a report of my investigation of the above accident:
 "On February 12, 1925, about 5:S7 P. M., in cloudy weather, al the corner of Chestnut and Stanley streets, New Britain. Connecticut Company trolley car No. 1923, in charge of Conductor John Roulin and Motorman Robert Hartnett tipped over. injuring Thomas Crosby and thirteen other passengers, also the motorman and conductor of the car, which was badly damaged.
 Large double truck trolley car No. 1923, en route Hartford to New Britain, was due to leave Hartford at 4:55 P. M. and arrive at New Britain at 5:45 P. M. and, accord ing to the conductor, was on good time when the accident occurred. rt~ north of, and about 300 feet away from Chestnut street, 8 stop was made for passengers In the usual manner. The conductor states that the car started up. and was going at a pretty fair rate of speed, which he would estimate at about Is miles an hour, when someone rang the bell for the next stop, which would be Chestnut and Stanley streets. He says he naturally thought the car would stop in the usual manner. and did not realize that anything was going to happen. until the first thing he knew. he felt the car tipping over and he was thrown to the T0Or.
 Speed of Car Increased
 "A passenger says the speed of the car increased when near the corner of Stanley and Chestnut streets, and he estimates it was running from IS to 20 miles an hour.
 "The car tipped over to the left, slid across the highway. and was lying on it's left side. clear of the tracks, at the south side Of Chestnut street, a short distance from the corner Of Stanley. when it came to stop; there were 25 or 30 passengers in the car at the time.
 "Motorman Hartnett says that he was acquainted with the New Brit ain line and that it is a year since
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