Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-28
ADDITIONAL SAFETY
DEVICES ARE URGED
At DEATH CROSSING
Takoma Park Crash in Which
Two Were Killed Is Held
Accident.
PROBE JURY HEARS
RESIDENTS OF AREA
Train Crew Members Testify Engi-
neer Says Boiler 0bstructed
His Vision.

recommendations calling for install
lation of additional safety devices al
the Chestnut street grade crossing were
made today by coronerS jury IN de-
Gliding that the collision in which two
women were killed in Takoma Park
Saturday night was an accident. The
jury deliberated less than IS minutes.
Witnesses told of finding Mrs. Mary
e. Johnson and Mrs. N. Hopkins dead
alongside the railroad tracks about SO
yards from the crossing. Witnesses
also told of the efforts to save the life
of Miss Edith Hopkins, the third occu-
pant of an automobile struck by fast
express train of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad.
The coroner's jury made no definite
suggestion as to the types of additional
safeguards it believed should be in
stalled at the crossing, nor did 1t men,
ton any other grade crossings.
Resident of Area Is Witness.
The principle witness at the inquest
was William E. Mcmahon, who lives on
Chestnut street near the crossing. He
testified he heard the automatic bells
ringing just before the train struck the
automobile. He said the bell con-
tinued to ring for sometime after the
collision. Mcmahon pointed out that
though he was in earshot and heard
the crash. he failed to actually see the
accident
Another witness, Mrs. Rose Ford,
who also resides in the neighborhood
Of the crossing, said she was returning
on foot from seeing motion picture
in Takoma Park when she saw an au-
tomobile standing still on the tracks.
She said there was what sounded like
an explosion when the train struck the
car. The woman explained she thought
her eyes had been playing tricks" and
she walked on home without realizing
there actually had been. a collision.
She learned of the accident later in
the night. Mrs. Ford was unable to
remember whether she heard the bells
ringing before the collision.
James A. Shrewbridge, the engineer
of the train involved, said he blew the
locomotives whistle four times as he
approached the crossing. He added his
view of Chestnut street in the direction
from which the automobile approached
was INSTRUCTED by a boiler. He said
when he heard the crash he merely
thought there was something the matter
with the engine, and proceeded to
bring the train to stop as soon as
possible.
Headlight Was Working.
Frank Kelly, the trains fireman, said
he told the engineer the crossing was
clear and then reached down to pick
up - chunk of coal which had fallen
on a pile and that just as he looked
up he heard the apparent explosion.
He testified the engineer brought the
train to stop within the length of
from four to six cars.
The engineer and the fireman agreed
that the locomotives headlight was in
good working order.
Edward Hovermale, the conductor,
revealed that the train was So minutes
late at the time of the accident. The
conductor estimated that the train was
going about As or SO miles an hour
when 1t struck the car. He said it
would have been permissible to make
65 miles an hour at this point. Other
members OF the train crew corrob0rated
Hovermale'S testimony
NJ. 0. Eldridge, assistant director of
traffic, told the investigators Mrs. John
son only recently renewed her drivers
permit after having been licensed au-
tomobile operator for about three years.
Neighbors of Mrs. johnson, who
lived at 1871 Gales street northeast,
testified her hearing was good and that
she apparently could see well with the
aid of glasses.
Testimony indicating that the sig
nal devices at the crossing were in good
operating condition few minutes after
the collision was offered by Lieut.. j. E.
Bowers OF the thirteenth precinct He
stressed the fact that the automatic bell
still was ringing when he reached the
scene eight minutes after the accident.
Lieut.. Bowers told the jurors that a
Waterman and boy were killed at the
same crossing about three years ago,
when the man attempted to save the
life of the youngster.