Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1917 — NO VERDIGTON RUSH ACCIDENT [ARTICLE]

NO VERDIGTON RUSH ACCIDENT

Has as Yet Been Rendered by Coroner C. E. Johnson. County Coroner Johnson, assisted by Deputy Prosecutor E. M. Laßue. convened the coroner’s inquest Tuesday to inquire into the accident at the McKinley avenue crossing of the Monon last Saturday that resulted in the death of John Rush. A number of witnesses were examined, but at the time of going to press yesterday afternoon no verdict had been rendered. Among those who saw the accident and were called upon to testify were George Gorham, the crossing watchman; W. C. Babcock, D. E. Grow, Bert Abbott, Perry Washburn. Mark Schroer, Winfred Pullin, Lewis Ott, Madeline Abbott and Lesta Wasson. The testimony of each of the above was quite in line with the facts already stated in Wednesday’s Democrat, that Rush drove upon the tracks when the gates were open and there was nothing whatever to warn him of danger. The evidence regarding the two local engines switching in the vicinity was reviewed in detail.

In testifying Mr. Gorham stated that smoke and steam from one of the local engines prevented him from seeing the approaching passenger train, and also that the electric bell on the tower house was not ringing, as he had been instructed by his superiors to disconnect this bell when local engines were switching in the block. He also stated, as did the other witnesses, that he did not hear the passenger engine whistle. Coroner Johnson desires to examine a few more witnesses regarding the operation of the block signal system before rendering a verdict. It is his opinion that when the passenger train ran into the block where the accident happened it must have raised the semaphore at the east end of this block, w’hich semaphore is in plain sight of the to-wer house. There is also a contention on the part of some that the locals should have caused the block to be closed, and that the passenger train entered a closed block without sounding a warning. Coroner Johnson expects to get some expert testimony on these facts in the near future and then render his verdict. It is reported that the Monon claim agent was here and appraised the material loss, but no settlement has as yet been made with the victim’s widow.