Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-08-21 | Page 5 | Wreck Probers Quiz Witnesses

WRECK QUIZ WITNESSES CARLIN Nev Aug 21 A A parade of company witnesses was lined up today for resumption of the secret Southern Pacific inquiry Into the wreck of a streamlined train August 12 near Harney Nev in which 24 persons persons persons per per- sons were killed and injured Interstate commerce commission representatives also participated in inthe inthe inthe the hearing Southern Pacific officials say the train City of San Francisco was wrecked deliberately by someone who moved a pound 1950 rail four inches inward at one end and fastened fastened fastened fas fas- fas- fas it to the ties in that tion At yesterdays yesterday's session government govern govern- ment representatives closely questioned questioned questioned ques ques- witnesses who supported the company theory and differed with railroad officials on several points Herschel D. D Smyth member of a coroners coroner's jury which convened at atthe atthe atthe the wreck scene last week and at attributed attributed attributed at- at the wreck to sabotage testified in Jn support of that verdict Warren L. L Monroe Elko newspaper newspaper newspaper news news- paper publisher identified pictures pic plc- tures he ha had taken sho showing ing the asserted tampering with the track Engineer Edward Hecox of the wrecked train testified that shortly shortly shortly short short- ly after the wreck he saw a claw bar lying near the fourth car of the train which stood over the place where the rail had been moved As he stood looking at the bar he said an unidentified man called to him out of the darkness saying saying say say- ing Dont touch it it might have fingerprints on it it Hecox said he left the spot and when he came back the bar was gone