Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-28

summoned by DR.. J. NJ. Rice, coroner, on the
body of the late Marcus Young, who was
killed on the Norwich & Worcester railroad
track in this city, on Tuesday afternoon last
held an adjourned ses ion, Wednesday, at the
office of DIR. Rice, on Pearl street. The first
witness called was Mr.. c. s. Turner, agent
of the road, who testified as follows
About one O'Clock P. NJ. of June rs, heard
a cry and looked out upon the track, and saw
a train of about eight coal cars at the Front
street crossing. Went to the place and saw
Marcus Young lying near the track. Saw
that he was badly injured, and removed him
to the depot. Called DR. Henry Clarke, and
other physicians were present. Deceased was
conscious, and said he was riding upon the
forward end of the train, and jumped off just
after passing Front street, and as he struck
the ground he fell and tried hard to get out
of the way of the cars, but could not.
Young did not usually swing the flag
at Mechanic street, as we have another flag
man there. His duty was to flag for
engines and trains at crossings south OF the
common, which belong to the N. Il w. IL. IL.
corporation. Deceased did not blame any one
as to the accident he died at about clock
in the afternoon. The cars were being push
ed in front of the engine, and were going slow
enough for them to stop before more than one
car and part of another had passed over the
body. Young had been employed by the cor
poration about six weeks.
The next witness called was Thomas Hayes,
switchman-He was at the Front street cross
ing at the time of the accident; saw Marcus
| Young Jump from the cars III front OF the
train and saw him fall and try to get out of
the way of the train, but he could not, and
was struck by the forward car, which passed
over him, and also the forward truck OF the
| second car, when the train was stopped with
the forward wheel of the last truck of the sec
ond car resting upon his thigh. Went to his
assistance and helped remove him from the
track He cried out 81 am killed" Another
young man was on the same end of the car
| had cautioned deceased about getting off the
cars in front; had seen him jump off i'll front
of the passenger train, and had spoken to him
several times about it. | saw him jump he
was not pushed | was on the north side of
Front street, about fifteen or twenty feet from
him.
Charles Boyden, testifed.-Was on the
common just before the accident, and got upon
the train on the same end of the car with Mar
Gus Young, at the first foot path across the
track on the common, south OF the Front street
crossing The cars were going slowly, so
that | did not run. We rode across Front
street, and he said he must go and flag his
crossing at Mechanic street. He jumped and
| thought he stumbled and fell upon the track
facing the cars, and was sitting up, trying to
get hold of something to help himself out
with, when the cars struck him. | held up
my hand to stop the engine, and put on the
brake myself. The cars stopped after one car
and part of another had passed over him. No
one but Marcus and myself was upon this car.
| could not have assisted any more without
danger to myself, as the cars passed immedi
| ately over him. He lay upon the track when
! | went to him. | have known him for some
| years, and he was perfectly sober, and not in
the habit OF drinking spirits. l have seen
him jump off, and spoken TO him about being
so careless, telling him it was dangerous.
Dennis Conner testified I saw Young
| jump off and tumble on the track, and the cars
pass over him. was the nearest to him with
the exception of Boyden | tried to take hold
OF Young as he was trying to catch at the
brake, but l could not reach him. The car
passed over his leg, and then his arm. He
was pulled along about one rod, / shouted to
the men on the train to stop, which they did
! Immediately. Thomas Hayes and others came
to my assistance. No one pushed him off.
The brake was between him and Boyden.
c. S. Turner, e.called.-Young was in
structed to flag on all crossings south of the
common, and at other crossings near the depot
|
he was cautioned to be careful, He was under
the charge more particularly of Mr.. Hayes.
We endeavor to prevent the riding OF boys and
others on the cars from place to place, and also
to prevent their walking upon the track.
Benjamin Brown, testifed.-Am not an
! employee of the road ; was on Mechanic street
crossing saw the cars coming, and saw the
deceased jump off he stumbled in front of the
train. The car passed over him. Saw the
witness, Charles Boyden, on the same car with
deceased, sitting on the opposite side.
DIR. John L. Hathaway and the several ply
sicians who attended the deceased were called
as witnesses. The jury, after suitable deliber-
alton, brought in the following verdict =
Chat the said Marcus Young came to his
death about three o'clock, P. NJ, of June Goth
| inst, from injuries received while in the en-
ployment of the Norwich and Worcester Rail.
road Company, by jumping in front Of the cars
lctite IN motion, near the Front street crossing
$50 called,l about one o'clock P. NJ. of the same
day and the jurors further say that, upon the
evidence given, no fault or blame is to be at
tached to the above named corporation or any
person in their employ that said Marcus
Young was doing what he had been repeatedly
told both by friends and those having the
more immediate supervision of the work in
|
few if any persons in similar employment
would deem it safe or prudent to accomplish.
In closing, the undersigned cannot refrain
from calling the attention of railroad corpora
tons, and the public who "still live" to few
plain but important suggestions Firstly,
corporations should not impose upon or re-
quire of any one indiUidual such an amount of
duty as shall endanger the life of the EN-.
ployee; and secondly, that the almost uniyer-
sal practice and persistent habit of persons of
! both sexes, and of almost all ages, particular.
ly on the Norwich and Worcester railroad, of
geeting on or o6'he cars wlle in motion, "tor
short ride" and the eoaLkjng upon ra,Aoadhacks
at any time, are highly improper, they being
strictly against the laws of the commonwealth,
and the regulations of the various railroad
companies therein.
Signed By j, Marcus Rice, coroner John
Boyden, foreman; Martin Stowe, Joseph b.
Lawrence, VIM, Allen, &. B. Lamson and r.
NJ Gould, jurors.
Superior Court at FItchburg.
WEDNESDAY, June 27.-The Islander case,
Snrol, 7 p Harris which