The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-13

VERDICT or THE JURY AT NoRwALX. The jury adopt
ed the following conclusions in regard TO the Of the
accident on the New Haven railway:
The immediate OF this disaster the negligence
and reckleSsness of said engineer
lst In running around the curve at rate not less
tainy. than twenty miles hour when under ccum
stances il should have been halt that
81. In not discovering that the ball down imme-
diaely after emerging from the cut
81. In not looking for the ball at the highway cross.
ing east OF The depot.
OF the switch tenders, when he well knew that they
not in sight OF the draw, and had nothing to do
with H.
5lh In not running even slower than usual when The
track wet and slippery.
In addition 10 all this, be well knew that the draw
required 10 be very frequently opened
IN not discovering that the hall down, think
he was guilty OF gross negligence. In running around
the at such rapid rate and under such crcum-
stances, we think him guilty OF the most criminal eck
essness.
At the same time do not think the entire response
billty OF this lslster rests upon him.
As have before observed the rules OF the company
do not make The duty OF the conductor 10 observe the
signals, nor are prepared TO say that they should
HIS other duties and his postIios IN The cars are such
that the duty, ii imposed upon him would probably be
very mperiectly performed and il may well be doubted
whether anything would be gained by way OF safety
10 the passengers II the engineer could ieel that there
was another with whom ne might divide the RESPONSE
biy.
Al the same lime we cannot orbear the expression OF
opinion that every careful and prudent conductor
TO see whether the signals down not In this in
he admits that be did not, though not otherwise
particularly occupied But he must have known that the
train on this occasion and babuay driven round
the curve west OF the bridge in utter violation OF the
rules OF the company and this be nigh, and should have
put STOP 10.
Nor do we think the responsibility OF this occurrence
stops here
The proof before the jury abundant that the or.
binary speed OF that lruin around the has
been less than twenty miles hour, and il is Dced
BILE that the officers OF the company should not, some Of
them nave known that the train did not, the language
of their rules, "moye around the with exceeding
care'n
We further find that for the protection OF trains ap-
preaching from the easl, and OF all trains from the
stopping al Norwalk, the ball signal sufficient,
much trains starting from the depot in Norwak will
attain such speed before coming in sight OF the bridge
that they be easily stopped the draw should be
open but for trains coming from the west which do not
stop at the depot, the signal insufficient.
But do not TO be understood that iAe engineer
excusable In this instance in not observing that the
ball was down We would however, express the opinion
that the signal ought TO be raised above the summit of
the hill OH the east, that il may be more plainly
and ALSO that il This Train does not hereafter stop at the
depot, with signal should be stationed where lie
the draw, and where he be seen by The eng-
the train from the west before reaching the de-
pOt