The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-15
RUN Warming
SIGNALS, THEN
NAB TRAINMAN
Police Scout Car Hit by
Train After Driver
Ignores Bell.
Officers Cleared Despite
Ordinance; Conductor
Draws Fine.

ert smith. under command Of Sergt.
William Purcell. drove a police scout
car on 10 the Belt Railroad tracks at
the Kentucky-sv crossing early to-
dav in violation Of city ordinance.
Promptly, a train Of four cars.
propelled By an engine, bore down
upon the automobile, grazed a fen
der. and stopped The scout car
stopped. Sergt. Purcell and PATROL
man Brown. together with PATROL
man Pred Stages. got out, inspected
the city's car. and were about TO re-
enter it and drive away.
A voice called from the dark
ness
What's the matter with YOU?
Are Won all drlnk2 Can't you see
that red light and hear that bell?"
Conductor Is Arrested
sergt. Purcell, in charge Of the
detail. called back. q
Come on down and see. I think
/ ran see about as well as YOU can"
Morton Reid. conductor, v-ho tes-
tilted to This conversation IL Mu-
nicipal Court later. came down. The
police arrested him on charge of
violating n CITY ordinance and took
him to Jail. He was in cell for
three hours
The police officers were not
charged with violating city ordi-
nance. which was the object last
month Of extensive police action fol-
lowing the deaths Of three persons
who disreCarded railroad crossing
signals. drove their cars on to the
tracks and we're killed.
YiolstOr Draws Fine
shortly sfer the three tragedies.
Urban r.. Mcclure. 81. of 21S2 n.
Sherman-dr Was fined S and costs
and given 2 severe public reprimand
i'm Municipal Court for desregarding
a bell warming at the E. Michigan
81 crossing OF the Belt Railroad.
In court today Municipal Judge
Charles j. Karabell fined Mr.. Reid,
who was not represented by cOun-
sci. 81 and costs and suspended it.
in spite Of the plea Of J. J. Liddy.
Belt trainmaster. that he withhold
hts Judgment until Mr.. Reid could
b. represented by counsel.
You see. Judge" Mr.. Liddy said.
~our company will countenance no
breaking Of laws and any emplOye
found guilty in court Of Law vio-
latior Is automatically suspended
from service. And I don't believe
Mr.. Reid violated a city ordinance.
Brakeman Had Lantern
Mr.. Reid was charged with Oper-
ating a train IN violation of Section
SIS of the Municipal Code. The code
reads ANY person IN charge Of any
care or train Of cars on any
railroad who shall cause such
train 10 BE- pushed over
such railroad without providing a
Watcrman on the head end OF such
train. on conviction shall be
dned I'm auv sum not exceeding 800.
C. c. Brinkley. brakeman on the
train. testified that nc was hanging
on to the head end Of the train and
that ne had in his hand a white
lantern He testified. too. that the
headlight Of the engine was on.
CITY Prosecutor Albert Thaver in
terposed that the lantern on Mr..
Brnkley'S arms was not fixed 70
the head car. and Mr.. Liddy said
that that was the accepted method
81 operating trains at night.
Policemen Are Cleared
When Mr.. Reid tried 70 point nut
10 the court that tihhe flashing light
and the ringing bell we're both oper-
stinE in warning Of the approach Of
the train. Prosecutor Thayer said
that that had nothing 10 do with
the case against Mr. Reid. that Mr..
Reid was not charged with violst-
ING that ordinance.
The train Of cars was not moving.
SerCt. Purcell said. when the police
automobile first came 10 the crossing
and came TO a fun stop. Thinking
no train was coming. in spite Of the
warnings. the police proceeded
on Jan. lS. Mrs Margaret Ehlers
had stopped her car at the Audu-
bon-rd crossing Of the Pennsylvania
70 allow a train 10 pass. 1t passed.
and she entered the crossing in
spite Of the continued ringing Of the
bell. Another train hit her car and
killed her and her companion. Mrs
Minnie Grace Webster.
Chief Issues Warning
At that time. grave warnings were
issued by Police Chief Nike Morris
sey. who. on Jan. q. GOT Mayor John
". Kern 10 add his support 10 pro-
posed regulation Of the speed Of
trains n the city limits.
Sergt. Purcell admitted in his
testimony that they would not have
arrested Mr.. Reid II IL had not been
for the argument after the accident.
during which Mr. Reid maintained
he had broken no city ordinance and
that. therefore. Sergt. Purcell could
not put him in Jail
Mr.. Reid said. Well. he did. !
vas locked up for three hours"
Sergt. Purcell: Well. I proved il
10 him
Mr.. REID: IN saw YOU did"
Mr.. Liddy said MS company would