The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-07
The Late Railroad Accident near Prince-
ton, N. 1.-THE Investigation.
lFrom the Trenton IN. J State Gazette, Aug. 81
CONTINUATION or TIRE CORONER s INQUEST.


| The Late Railroad Accident near Prince
| ton, N. J.-The Investigation.
tFrom the Trenton (N.J) State Gazette, Aug. 81
| CONTINUATION or IRE cokorERs INQUEST.
| TRErroN, Aug. 80 A. M
| WILLIAM BuR1or sworn-I am fireman of the loco
motive which ran OF the track yesterday; was about
whistle and reversed right away rose and looked to
see what was the matter the two first switches
right Uhere are switches at both ends OF the
the long switch at the upper wrong; can't say
whether the other switch right not; md
the engine WAS going into the canal, and We both
Jumped the company keep man to attend the
switch, but saw nothing of him before after the
cdent did NOT either Of the deceased until after
they were dead; ! am not acquainted with the
switch tender; he lives in . dwelling house at the
| lower switch, two three hundred yards from
the upper switch there IL . small turn in
the read this side Of the switch tenders house, IL
the switch tenders place and the engineer to
attend the switch tho house stands at this end Of
the turn out and the or at the other end it
the switch tenders business to attend to both ends;
have the switch of before but have heard
| OF lis being so; there was woman in the house;
have been the road six months: 1t is usual
rr the switch tender to have the switch right before
the come; the switches most generally have locks
on; don't know whether this had not Jumped out
on the railroad sde right opposite where the engine
was; the switch is common bar with lever at
tached to it frcm one end to the other; the lever
shifts boh bars of the track; 1t works upright
post bolt passing through both lever aud poet
did not examine the lever and post after the accident
cant say for certain that the bolt in the right place
not should think 1t was but did examine 1t par
cuarly the bolt fastened with key the outside
the bolt has head and burrs; 1t acts fulcrum for
the lever; when the lever is turned of there is hook
to hold it as it Is turned off, did not take notice whether
the hook in its place not observed after tho
accident, that the lever WAS turned of can't say
whether it hooked not; should not suppose the
switch could get out Of place, unless moved by
person; when the switch is on the lever rests fair
against the upright post and i. secured by an iron
bolt through one hole and wooden pin through
smother the bolt passes through both lever
and post 1t Ia secured by key through the
hole the pin is loose, and has nothing to il
the key is attached to the lever cannot say whether
fIaVo hA1 tn t.rA.
whether it attached to the lever the bolt
and pin are Of the same size when the bolts out 1t
requires considerable force to move the switch the
switch that order was sight of the switch
tenders house from his house he could see whether
me lever was on or not the cars were running about
at this end Of the turn out it impossible to stop
in time we generally 20 rs miles an hour
not going faster than 20 miles when discovered that
| the switch was wrong.
| WILLIAM CLEAR, sworn-Am tender of the switch,
where the cars ran of yesterday not there when
the accident occurred; ave six miles of; it Is
my duty to attend the switch, if am convenient to it,;
! was at my work, the repairs to the road that
nsrnipg, about five six clock examined the turn
cut; the switches were right, except that the locks
Were mot I'M tney we're thrown IN the grass these Two
thrown back 1t pins last to the brace running from the
UPRIGHT post; there are two hooks on The other
| have no hooks they are kept back by the
pin through the brace; all four Of the switches have
hut did not lock them, because was not allowed to
lock them; in winter, when they run by night, my
order to have them locked; put the locks Ia
the evening" and Wien home after the accident,
found them tbrewn in the grass; put the locks,
but did not lock them secured them with piece Of
weed the night before and found them the same In
the morning; can see the lever very plainly from my
house; always go down to whether they right;
| when returned yesterday found the small switch
right but the large place keep the switches
locked In the winter, but not allowed TO lock
| thin in summer; have been employed about. twelve
months by the company; the had run OF be-
fore vent there get my house-rent and hre-wood,
nothing else and constant work from the company;
af TO 10 hAra anffh
railroad not allowed 20 work for any body else;
wasworking yesterday at the three mile about
Trenton; came down to my work in jumper with
other bands who met at Cra:srs, Carksvils get
pay by the day for staying home aud attending the
switches; the company never gave ms orders not 70
lend the switches in winters directed to display
the trains when LET home Yesterday 'G msrn.
| Ing, LETT my wife and sster-in-law in my house;
no train PASSED before the passenger train do
not make practice To TO the switches after the
last Ian except in winter nights; summer nights
! am not allowed TO attend them; when went home
night before last the trains had passed. about ocloc
| went TO examine the switches, and found them In
their fight place but the locks scattered about;
In tho morning found all right as loft them the
night before the trains very often at this place;
Princeton is the regular meeting place; my house 10
| two miles from the Princeton basin
ASpRsw HkArB, sworn Il con ductor the train
from New ork to Philsdelphis Wednesday night
met the train from Philadelphia above the turn OUT it
them at the rate of ten twelve miles hour the brake
train had nothing to do with the switches 1t
switches are en rght.the proper position for them is
the straight track 1t Is the duty Of the conductor
they serequired place them right unless the switch
tender IL there to do III rely this person do
ing it, unless We see him present at the time.
the train from Philadelphia to New York on "Wednesday
evening We met the New York train at the eight mile
turnout. The switches were left we went oil OF
them believe there person there take charge
Of the switches at least we supposed so saw some
one coming the baggage master him Il Is duty
IN vii Inn he bruk tbc bs0
master or some one connected with the trsin) when
the switchtender is not there saw person coming
der don't know the man never saw him before last
night 1t was little before when leftthe eight
mile turnout little behind time the person
just about coming out 81 the dosr; spoke to the
baggage master, and was about to ring the bell; he
trains do often at this turnout met there
last night they have met there once or twice during
the last month; may have seen the switch.tender
seen him frequently at his door and the switches also
l think the man vas standing In the dsor when
man or woman but think it man; II had not
seen him, should have stopped the train to fix the
the we're RfGrsTy IN shei
unless they we're changed by evil designed per-
son which ! have no doubt has been the case from
what learn. have been told that the wife Of the
switch-tendsr said the switches right yesterday
morning, and that her husband attended to them.
coBversed with Der about II o'clock yesterday morn
ing she had not then her since the acct
dent; have been conductor IL years next month"; J
had no conversation with the switch tender yesterday
except that him night to get in the cars and
60 to Princeton. Gen Cook requested to bring him
up there lad no time to talk to him, without ne
glectiDg my duties.
VILLAS ClrAR. recaled.-was not at homo when
the cars met on Wednesday evening and do not know
OF any being there persons apt TO stop at the
door for water, nc went 10 Princeton last evening
at the request Of General Sock; he aud Mr. stevess
wanted to know In what way had the switches; did
got know what they wanted me for until got to Prince
tom II was nearly room yeserdaybcfore my wife,
and did not with her before that time after
he m lad HftH kgl hOU han ffg1f
she raid che ddn't know; asked her II ste any
thing Of the switchs she told that when she went
to milk the after had left homo In the morning,
she saw the switches and they were 10 their rsce.
EnwhRD A. Srpvsss worn-Am superintendent of
the railroad from Trenton to New Brunswick the
agents cons uctors and others. under my general
supeiintenaenoe their general instructions given
from me in MT dstey 10 the conductor and to Gen.
Cook who is immediate engineer and .ntenden mt
Of this part Of the road the orders for conducting the
rtsd are sometimes imme dsfsy given by myself aud
son.timss by Gen. Cook the order to the conductor