The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-18
THE NEWARK RAILROAD DlSASifR
Conclusion Of the Inquest and Yer.
dict Of the Jury.
The SWitchman Committed for
Edanslaughter.

nc. &c. &c.
The inquest upon the body Of Henry L. Gordon, who
wsaIkled at the accident which occurred to the eight
A. NJ Washington through train at Newark, N j., on
Wednesday morning last, was resumed yesterday morn
ing, before Coroner Sanford, in that city.
TESTIMONY OF NARY ). SMITH.
The FIRST witness examined was Mary Jane Smith, OF
No s74 Mulberry street. Newark who beng duly sworn
My house is nearly opposite TO the turntsble the
track runs very close the mousse not acquainted
with Edward 0'Bren, The switchtender; do not know
how long he has been engaged at the switch; do not
whether no at his post at the time OF the acct
dent; saw the accident the train on Wednesday
morning. and went over Immediately; did not see the
dead body Of Mr. Gordon moved out Of the cars; tho
train was running very FAST should Judge this train
travels through the city or Newark faster than any way
trains on which ever travelled; made remark at
the time that thought neither the engineer the
brakeen could do anything TO stop the train az the rate
Of speed II then running; my daughter made the
and before could get TO the window the accident had
occurred
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM JENKINS.
William Jenkins, Jr being duly sworn, d. re.
side on Jersey Road avenue Newark am q grocer;
was at my place Of business when the accident hap
pened my attention called to the train by hearing
running at not less than fifteen, and probably twenty
miles an hour know Edward O Bren the switchman
by sight he has been attending that switch between one
the train had passed the flag house he was
standing directly in front OF the haghouse; he
at the approaching train think he had broom in his
hand the distance from the playhouse to the switch is
about forty feet the Playhouse TO Newark;
cannot recoect seeing any locomotive of the turn
table that morning; the whistle was blown four times
making two signals the speed o, the train after the
went to the scene Of the smash up immediately saw
the dead body OF Mr. Gordon while was lying on the
thnrn
around him; did not SEQ him searched; saw the
switchtcncer go replace his switch Immediately aftcr
the accident.
TESTIMONY OF DANIEL. B. BRuEN.
Daniel r. Bruen being duly sworn, sa!d:-I reside at
ISL South Brood street. Newark my place OF business
the Of johnson street and Railroad avenuc
was at my place of business when the accident
CURED did not the train pass; tho Washington
mail train usually al the rate Of forty miles an
hour, and when running up Railroad avenue generally
runs at the same rate, as have often timed them;
don't know Edward O'Brien, the switchman; don't
know where ne was on ina' morning; saw az engine
In about thirty minutes nfter heard that the washing
ton train had run on the line; the switch must have
been misplaced from fifteen 10 thirty minutes.
DIR. poDp's TESTIMONY.
DR.. B. D. Dodd, The surgeon in attendance on the
wounded, testiedI called professionally on the
by the running off the track Of railroad train at the
crossing Of Mulberry and Pennington streets; first saw
James Spinner and Alfred Johnson colorod at the house
OF Mrs. Jenkins in Mulberry street. near where tho
accident occurred their injuries not Of serious
nature being mere contusions OF the flesh; Mr.. j. w.
Mousley saw next his symptoms indicated injuries
more serious in character as he was pale and hav-
ing feeble pulse did not examine him care
i Of ise urine .e ns e
sons killed. and my duty ss County Physician obliges me
TO attend to then Mr. Henry l. Gordon when first seen
by me- lying upon the ground dead, near the west
fence Of the enclosure where the accident occurred he
lying upon his back, his head covered with coat,
upon noval Of whish found that the whole left sdo
Of his skull had been crushed In and presented fiat
tened surface; blood was oozng from his ear;
also found that both legs had been torn from
was lying near the body, and the other found nat
tened beneath the shattered cars; immediately adj
dressed line 10 Coroner sandford. requesting him TO
death; ordered the. body 70 DO removed 70 Market
street depot next a boy named JUhes f. Brett,
OF New Brunswick, aged twelve years. who MORALLY
Injured and In an nsensolc condition, lying In one Of
70 great extent the right eye was also torn
from It's socket and the and face crushed in such
extent that the brain matter was emitted IL tho
general opinion Of the physicians who saw the lad that
he could not survive but short time consequently his
datey but unexpectedly reaction took place ind
seriousness returned 10 such an extent that he able
% ais rpd lid Sas
necessary would state that for thc good
of the patient II we're quite well
as compression OF the brain II more likely 10 follow in
consequence OF the collection and blocking up OF the
whom slender feeble pulse and other symptoms Of
serious nature soon followed no died about noon on
November 10; II is my opinion that death resulted in the
Of Henry L. Gordon and James H. Brett from inju
received in the Incident TO the Washington through
train. the New Jersey Railroad in the city OF Newark
on the morning OF Wednesday, the 18th inst.
The Coroner deemng it unnecessary TO examine either
the switchman, Edward o Bricn, or any further wit
nesses this concluded the testimony,
The jury after celebrating with closed doors for hall
an hour, rendered the following
VERDICT.
An inquistion indented and taken Mt the city OF
Newark In said county on the 18th day Of November
1885, before me, Garct Sandfod Of the Corones Of
said county, upon the view Of the body OF Henry L.
Gordon then lying dead, upon the oath Of twelve good
andlawful men Of said county, who being duly sworn
and charged to inquire on the part Of the State OF
New Jersey, when, where and how and after what
manner, the said Henry, L. Gordon came to his
death the 10Th day Of November 1885, at the city
Newark in the county aforesaid find that IT caused
by the gross carecssnoss Of Edward 0'Brien switch
pany MuSoy crossing IN & cy
Ing the switch open for the table thus dverg the
train from the main track, causing the destruction OF
And do further find the said Edward O'Brien guilty
OF mansaughter, In causing the death OF the aforesaid
Henry Gordon through aa sia p sSsSyonp ooo0.
/ sAI wHrS, r Foreman; srdaa HEAToN Nrrs
GEORGE MATTHEWS, slsEoS BEDFORD
BRuEN H. CAMP, JOHN MILLS,
E. McNAUGHT0N, A. KELLY, Juror
community, the Common Council shall further restrict
the rate Of speed at which all railroad trains shall
through the city Of Nsv var =, ..,rv,v
The switchman, Edward OBrien. was brought into
court at the conclusion Of the inquest in charge OF
b. Stone, Of Newark declined say anything He ap
pcared 70 be greatly detected and sorry for what had
He was then committed by the Coroner 70 await tho
action Of the Grand Jury.
The Navy.