No Blame Attached To Maritime's Crew.  The inquiry into the deaths of Daniel GEDDES and Fred OGDEN, was held at the Christie Funeral Home on Young Street, Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock.  After viewing the remains and hearing all the available evidence the jury brought in a verdict exonerating the train crew from all blame.  The two men, both from New Annan, were killed at Aikins Crossing.  Folly, Monday where their truck was hit by the Maritime Express.  The first witness called during the inquest was Dr. F.F. EATON, of Truro, He stated that he had been called to attend the accident victims on October 7 and that he had examined the men and found them both dead.  In his opinion death was caused in both cases by a fractured skull.  Mrs. BLAIR, of Folly Lake, told the (...) that just before the accident, she was in the kitchen of her home, which is situated about 150 feet from the railroad crossing.  She heard the train blow about 3.30.  Then she heard a car hit the loose planks on the road near her home.  These planks cover some kind of a ditch and when a car goes over them they make quite a noise.  She said she looked out the window to see which way the car was going.  It was heading towards the crossing at an average speed and didn't slow down any.  "I saw the train hit the truck, and saw everything fly.  It was horrible, I covered my eyes, I could not look any longer".  She said that she recognized the truck going down the road as that belonging to Mr. GEDDES and knew that one of the men was Mr. GEDDES.  I distinctly heard the whistle blow, and it seemed to me that it blew incessantly until it struck the truck.  There was plenty of time for the truck to stop if the men had heard the whistle.  Ivan CAMPBELL, of Folly Lake, an other eye witness to the tragedy, said that he noticed the car as it turned into the by road leading to the tracks, which are about 100 years distance.  An approaching train cannot be seen until a person gets quite close to the crossing.  He said he wondered at the time if the men heard the whistle and he ran down the road after them.  He said the train whistle started to blow about 650 feet from the crossing.  The truck was going about 15 miles per hour.  After the crash he identified both victims.  Jack MacLEAN, engineer of the Maritime Express, said that his hand was still on the whistle cord when he saw the truck.  He then slammed on the emergency brake.  The train was going about 35 miles per hour at the time of the crash.  He said that it was impossible to see the truck due to the heavy growth of trees and bushes near the crossing.  Harry SARGENT, Halifax, conductor of the Maritime, gave evidence of hearing the whistle blow, and the train being brought to a quick stop.  The truck was wedged under the pilot of the locomotive.  Following the giving of evidence the jury retired and brought in this verdict: "We the jury find that Daniel GEDDES and Fred OGDEN came to their deaths through collision between the Maritime Express and a truck, at Aikens Crossing, Folly Lake, in the County of Colchester, on October 7, and further more no blame may be attached to the train crew. 


Deeply saddened was the whole community of New Annan and many surrounding districts to hear of the tragic death of Daniel GEDDES on Monday afternoon October 7th.  The funeral held from the home residence of Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. was the largest ever witnessed in New Annan.  The service was conducted by Rev. R.P. MURRAY assisted by Rev. G.E. WHIDDEN of Tatamagouche and Rev. Mr. HICKS Baptist minister of the Westchester circuit.  The hymns were rendered by a male quartette composed of Gerald and Kenneth BYERS New Annan and Harry BONNYMAN and Annan and Harry BONNYMAN and Arnold McLENNAN of Tatamagouche.  The floral tributes were many and beautiful showing the high esteem in which the deceased was held.  The pallbearers were Messrs. Daniel, Wesley and Bert BYERS, Ervin CARROLL, Elmon, Bill and Stanley COOPER. Interment was in Bill Gift Cemetery.