New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-22
Thr Railroad Accident nj Hamilton ave-
nue. Bridgc-Conclu-ion Of the Coroner''
Investigation md Verdict Of the Jury.

The investigation relating TO the clrcum-
stances connected with the dcplcrable accident on
Wednesday ghi upon which occasion Car No li9 oihe
Greenwood and Fulton Ferry line prccp'aicd into
Gowanus Greek in consequence Of the opening Of the
draw OF Hamilton Avenue bridge. was concluded before
Coroner Bennett and jury yesterday afternoon.
The inquest was held at the foiiy-eighth Precinct
Station house in Fourth avenue. Gowanus.
1t will be rccolected that Rev. WIN. c. Shannon md
q lad named Thomas Stewart lost their lives on tins 90
cason. and that another passenger Mr.. Henry T. Hud
son was seriously inlurcd.
The first witness examined before tie Jury was the
injured man. Nj Henry c. Hudson which took place
M his residence III Ninth street near Third avenue.
He states under OATH that he was on the car nj The
tine OF the accident the nside-was sitting down
three persons in the car beside hnef; believed
passer scr was the front platform with the drYcr
did hear any alarm given io stop tho noscs were
moving al brisk trOt 90 The t'nc TIE speed was 10y
slGekenea Oh Tie approach - Nc U.l'f .sG whether
he vas under tie influence Of liquor at the time o. The
accident did not hear the conductor tel tie driver
iha, be behind time. thought there was dim night
or he bridge; got The cor at Twenty int street.
Amer the examination 81 Nj Hudson. the coroner
nrd Jury returned 90 thc Station House. who're the
diver ~ the Nil John Fclgis. was ie.ckhmined.
hs previous testimony hnyinr been given While abof4nS
under excitement rcf NC Iuin The acc!afAi
Nj feilis testified tAat De- driver cor M. lFi
o. Wednesday evening bad been driver for about ~
weeks there were printed rllcs for drivers and con
ductors hanging Up in ilc Office Tie rules are Go take
core u he horses aud not oycfdfNe them and 10y TIE
conductors and drivers 90 keep Themselves ia, TIE
regulations require them TO lok n"id 10 s'o Nf!t
an lau,er 20 watch The crossings ana 20 ehsi hn eye
70 tho night AID lCff. witness tant D. vls
near tie bridge bl. sIs no light AL gas dark nnd Pc
could lot ser De- SACKED up the lofres "Acn De shN
tie danger btr uas unable to avoid ilo accident 80"
hight from Ms. johnson porter house nj distance
oi lty yards hom the bridge. when he clicked
the horses, that light made 100 aware mat
lie Was near d.. bulgr. the bridge Wh'h
& va f1O latc. and the horscl went down before
Ac could check titws Witness sight j. toirfipi
good, coald see as fAr as any orc else The ifi "
p-ety dark-coudy il ais 4ys daft about there ~
hight feco.eciod Ac evidence DC gave tie other morn
!rg. icf0re sfaIlue from tHc stand ~ GoWnurs the
conductor said ih't were behind iihe ~.iH'a' ne.i
Into place opposite and TOOK orinA Of beer "hlch
ga r0t dethn lin than minute. had ihkrn one
ass before and took another IL Mfs Johnson Hhic
,tas o. Dee drank before the accident. the conductor dd
lot te him 20 hurry after entering Hamilton avenue,
was looking straight ahead while approaching ilo
bridge. heard alarm any one could zee u.
beams oi The bridge when the hrAi = burning OF
Wteu inc moon 9 tp the moon diu h't ailhct lisAti
re horses WcrC walking wien they went over. u l.
bad spot could not see anything unti close up and
t.'n coud not stop thg homes had 40 idea that TIC
bridge Hns open.
ms closed tie evidence To President Of the
Brook. City KallIoad Company being picsent ing
gested that Gentleman prescni be ehni d Us TO the
condition 81 the bridge Oh orr occasion when be al
tempted 10 cross with 81 clrilafc.
lie gentleman stated that himself md friend come
To the DIuge ono night ~ cnuinpe and that finding
ire draw partly open they closed IT before they could
cross No light Wa- burning
The Coroner being Of the opinion ila' the evidence
did LOT bear upon the Cnre csclud'd It, aud directed
the Jury 20 decide upon their verdict
Tie jury retired, and after remaining absent fOT
about ar hour rendered the following verdict:
" The Jury and that the body Of licensed examined
By U.s. came 10 their death by being pIccpitated into
tie GoWanus Creek while riding In one of tie City
Railroad cars No 40 and while the bridge was open,
between and 10 O'Clock the evening Of tae Ism 81
August inst and that he accident which caused Their
death was through tie carclcssnes aDd neglect 81 ctiy
Oh tho part Of he driver Of tic Cur. Your jury also
lnQ that the authorities Of the City 81 E.ooiyn are
highy censGTahle for not providing better s.fAas ana
protection against the like occurrence ana that the
Railroad Company III the opinion 81 tie Jury, aIo cen
surable for employing parties 10 drive thcT caIb who
ere IN the opinion Of this jury incompetent ana unht
to discharge thclr duty
IL did not appear IN evidence that both horses attached
10 tie cur were blind which l. reported 10 De The TACT,
and II the accident il easi accounted Tor IeiLer
wa enything said about signal lantern on the bridge
70 denote that the draw was open