Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-24
EXPERTS TESTIFY
z TONS ON BRIDGE
Testimony Shows Excessive
Weight on Monocacy Span
When Crash Came.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FREDERICK, Md, June 24.-Sixteen
witnesses were examined at a coroner's
jury inquest at the court house yes
terday afternoon for the purpose OF
fixing the responsibility for the collapse
OF the Monocacy River Bridge at Fred
erick Junction Thursday, in which three
workmen lost their lives and seven were
injured. Following the testimony, a re-
cess was taken until July 7, when con-
sulting bridge engineers. who are now
making an investigation, will submit
testimony from which the jury will re-
turn verdict.
Magistrate on Bench.
The inquest was conducted by Magis-
trate Alton Y. Bennett, acting coroner,
and questions were asked by States
Attorney William NJ. Storm, this city,
and r. H. Archers, assistant to the
Maryland attorney general. The most
important witnesses were Thomas M.
Linthicum, district engineer of the
State Roads Commission; Walter C.
Hopkins and L. c. Carr, Baltimore,
State bridge inspectors, for the COM
mission.
Linthicum described the nature of
the work being done by A. H. Ward 81
Co., Baltimore, the contractor in charge.
He stated that the bridge had been in
Spected by State officials prior to April
rs, 1929, when he assumed charge of
the work in this district. He added
about $50 feet of the bridge had fallen
down. Hopkins testified that about 81
or % tons of trucks, MATERIAL and
equipment was on the bridge when it
collapsed. The capacity of the struc-
ture, he said, was about 20 TONS He
stated that he made a casual inspec-
ton OF the floor of the bridge last
September or october and found that
repairs were very much needed. The
steel work, he said, was in good con-
dition.
Repairs Held Needed.
Carr testified that he made a regu-
lar inspection last February and found
the floor of the bridge very much in
need of repairs. Iron and steel Orders,
he said, were in good condition, with
exception of slight surface rust Under
croSS-eXamination it was brought out
that this was the first inspection Carr
had ever made of this bridge.
P. D. Stull, near Frederick, work.
man engaged on the flooring, testi-
ned that he was under the structure
when it collapsed. He said he had
been working from this position for
several days and had noticed that
when buses and large trucks passed
over the structure it would bend and
then go back into its place.
Driver Testifies.
Richard Morgan, Boonsboro, driver Of
the truck that went down with the
bridge, testified that he felt the struc-
ture give way and the next instant
his truck went down with the wreckage.
The other workmen testified to The
effect that they heard a strange noise
and the next moment the bridge
buckled in the center and fell into
the river. Three of the witnesses said
they saw the dead men, one of whom
drowned and the two others had their
necks broken when taken from the
wreckage. .......,..
Other witnesses were Andrew C.
Smith, Baltimore, foreman of repair
crews; Ames Wachter, Howard Stull
and P. D. Stull, near this city: Andrew
Boardman, Edward Knipple and Harvey
Cook. Falling Waters, w. Va; Expert
Neisley, Savage, Md, and DR.. Ira /.
Branfleld, Frederick; d. E. Williams
and his son, H. S. z. Williams. of
PunxSutawney, Pa, tourists, whose car
stopped at the brink of the bridge
abutment, and A. r. Knight, who fur
nished the equipment for the repair of
the bridge.