Evening star., 1935-04-23
Whistle or Bells Not Heard,
She Says in Hearing
for Trio.
DRIVER, TRAINMEN FACE
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE
Spectators Fill Court Room-Rep.
resentatives of I. G. c. Are
Present.
BY JACK ALLEN,
Stan CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

HOSh v LILLE, Ouss 6APAA Ho' AAS .
Williamsport children killed in the
tragic bus wreck here nearly two weeks
ago went to their death with no
warning of the danger that lurked
at the grade crossing where q crack
Baltimore g. Ohio express train de-
molished the vehicle in which they
were riding, 1t was testified here today.
The testimony was presented by
Miss Louise Funk Of Hagerstown, a
member of the Williamsport High
School faculty, who took the stand as
the first witness in the preliminary
hearing opened this morning into
manslaughter charges brought by the
State against Percy Line, driver OF
the Inflated bus: James A. Shew-
bridge and w. F. Bussey, engineer and
fireman, respectively, Of the express
train.
Five students who survived the
crash told substantially the same story
as Miss Funk. They agreed that they
could hear no warning signal, that
the bus driver slowed down as he
approached the grade crossing and
that he made q desperate effort to
clear the tracks before the locomo-
tive struck his bus.
Counsel for Line announced during
the luncheon recess that he would
put the bus driver on the stand when
the hearing Is resumed this afternoon.
Heard Ne Whistle.
In q low-pitched voice the attrac-
tive science teacher told the court
that occupants Of the bus neither
heard any warning whistle from the
locomotive as 1t bore down on the
crossing or the ringing of the crossing
bells maintained ct the intersection
where the Norbeck- Rockville road
crossed the B. & O. tracks.
Miss Funk declared that the first
intimation occupants Of the bus had
Of the impending crash was the blind
ing lights and roar Of the train ~ It
hure down On them after the bus drove
on to the crossing.
1.-THE driver" she said, Seemed to
step on the gas and thought We were
going to miss the train, but Just at
that moment the impact came"
Under cross-examination by counsel
for the railroad, Miss Funk stated she
could not definitely testify whether
the whistle Of the locomotive was
blowing and she also admitted that
the noise Of the approaching train
could have obscured the ringing of
the automatic crossing bells.
Train Travelling Fast.
The engine, she asserted, was q
considerable distance down the track
when she first observed 1t. but it was
approaching with great rapidity,' -
and ploughed into the school bus be-
fore 1t could travel the short distance
which lay between It and safety.
Miss Funk, neatly dressed in q
dark blue Spring outfit, took the stand
as the first witness after Judge D. A.
De Lashmutt, presiding, read the war
rants accusing the two trainmen and
the bus driver Of manslaughter in the
death of Norris Downs, one of the
high school pupils killed in the wreck.
The teacher told the court under
questioning by States Attorney James
H. Pugh that she was sitting in the
seat directly behind Line on the re-
turn trip from College Park.
She testified that shortly before
reaching Rockville she warned the
driver OF Q dangerous curve about half
q mile to the east of the crossing, but
did not speak to him again.
"I noticed q flash of light to the
right as we reached the crossing and
saw the cross-arm sign at the cross
ing, but heard no warning bells or
whistle" Miss Funk stated.
"As we reached the tracks I saw
the headlight of the engine and heard
the rear Of the train," she continued.
II was conscious Of another automo-
bile passing upon the left and the
driver of the bus seemed to step on
the gas. I thought we were going to
miss the train but Just at that mo-
ment the impact came"
Miss Funk told the court that at the
time the crash occurred the children
were quiet.
The bus, she said, had slowed down