Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Latrobe Bulletin
Wednesday, February 23, 1916
Kuhn Case Still Going On
The case of Charles Kuhn against the Ligonier Valley Railroad Company is still going on with little chance of its being finished today. The defense is now producing its witnesses in rebuttal. This morning two bartenders from Latrobe were on the stand for the defendants, and in their testimony said that on the day of the wreck Mr. Kuhn had taken a drink in their places of business previous to the leaving of the train from the local station. The plaintiff had witnesses on the stand this morning to testify that he had not been intoxicated the morning of the wreck.
Members of the crew of the ill-fated Ligonier Valley train were called, yesterday afternoon, to testify in the case.
Brakeman John Jones testified that when he entered the baggage car to change his coat preparatory to getting the coach ready for the trip, he asked Conductor Kuhn, "How about the freight?" To this, he said, Kuhn replied, "To hl with the freight, get the train ready." Without further question, he went about his work.
B. V. Gaston, an undertaker, in Ligonier, who at the time of the wreck was engaged in hauling the express and mail from the station, corroborated Brakeman Jones concerning the statement Conductor Kuhn was alleged to have made. It is said, however, that Kuhn made the remark about the keys to the coach and not with reference to the trip up the Wilpen branch.
Engineer Thomas Dunlap said he had worked for the company for a long number of
years and that he had been engineer for eighteen years. He described the manner in which the train was made ready for the trip to Wilpen and stated that for the first time in his memory the coach was run up the branch ahead of the engine. Both Engineer Dunlap and Fireman Walter Byers said that Conductor Kuhn gave the signal to move ahead. Several of the trainmen stated that after the passenger train had arrived at the Ligonier depot from Latrobe they had heard that the train of which Mr. Knox was conductor was off the track, at Wilpen.
John Kuhns, a member of the section crew stated that he had swept and cleaned the coach. He explained that he had heard that the freight was off the track at Wilpen but he did not remember who had told him. When the passenger train pulled out he rode on the front platform of the coach. At first, he said, he did this in order to see where the freight was, but under cross examination Kuhns stated that he wanted to see where the other members of the section gang were working as he had orders to come up on the train and join them after cleaning the coach.
The case is being closely fought on both sides. Mr. Kuhn's side of the case was completed yesterday morning.
Several experienced trainmen were called by the plaintiff to show that written orders were necessary to guarantee the safe handling of trains on a single track system. W. L. Thomas, train dispatcher, of the Conemaugh Division of the P.R.R., and W. L. Crosby, of Youngwood, were among those called.