Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1917 — Blames Monon Road For Williams’ Death [ARTICLE]

Blames Monon Road For Williams’ Death

With both engineers claiming that the blocks were green and not red, and an expert testifying that the block system is not infallible, Coroner J. A. Graham, of Hammond, who is conducting an inquest into the death of Fireman Roy Williams in the wreck of a Monon switch engine and a workman’s train, at Hammond last Wednesday, critized the railroad for not running all trains between Hammond and South Hammond under orders by telephone or telegraph. The coroner is of the opinion that the collision would not have occurred had the light engine and the workman’s trains been running under orders. Dependency on the block system alone is not sufficient, he said. The evidence of Engineer Planer, of the south bound engine, which crashed into the “Hurdy Gurdy” train was heard. Planer said that the block was green. Planer had been an engineer three weeks prior to the wreck and the other engineer, who also maintains he had the green block, was not a veteran.