The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-16

ination.
MRS GoRDOs's TEsTMoyy

Mary Jane Gordon, being duly sworn tesned--I am
tho wife of Henry Gordon and reside at Holdenness
New Hampshire; my husband instantly killed this
morning at Newark, between eight and nine O'clock
he between forty-two and forty-,hrce years OF
age; he owned the coaches Wizards Hotel in Wash
ington no was carrying business ut Washington In
company with his brother law; have two children
daughters one aged fourteen and the other three years.
left home ON Monday morning for Washington, In COM
pany with my husband and two children, and were on
our way thther left New York at about eight o'clock
this morning on the through train for Washington an
accident happened after had left the Market street
depot here's the cause understood the switch being
turned the wrong way aud the OF the track
did not notice the train going at an unusual
speed; my husband in the same with me,
at the time of the accident he had just gone into the
smoking car; my husband was killed at the spot where
the accident occurred the accident occurred
went forward and found my husband; he was not en-.
tirey dead the cars were very much smashed; when
saw my husband he outside the ground with his
lees both or my husband had when he left home about
nfteen hundred dollars in money he carried in the breast
pocket OF his dress coat II was roll OF bills and just
stuck loose in his pocket saw the money in his posses
sion when we left New York. he had pocketbook and
other papers with him; he had also pass from New
York to Philadelphia and Baltimore; the Rev Dr. Strong
Of New York. took charge of the papers, but the money
have been Informed, could not DO found the money
was not In The pockebook Dr. Strong gave about two
dollars which my husband had in his pocket loose saw
the money while we were on the boat don't know what
going very fast should have noticed it my hus
band have the money just about the time leav
ing New York the pass OF my husband passed the whole
family
REV. DR. srRoSGs TESTIMONY
rev. III. 1nOmaS u strong, Deng tuly sworn,
sad-I reside in Broadway New York, between Forty
seventh and F0rtyeighth Streets was not acquainted
with Henry L. Gordon; was on the cars this morning
when the accident occurred al Newark don't know the
exact Of the accident but have heard It the
switch which was misplaced; the accident happened at
the lower end of the city; travelling, think,
faster than we should have BEEN had made remark
few minutes before, 81 think travelling too fast
for safety in going through city;" the cars went
through to the left TO urntabe and 80 on to mea-
dow noticed the whistle blow violently three or four
times, and remarked to gentleman at my side that
there was something the matter; the speed was not
slackened before the crash; the smoking at
the time OF the accident along with Mr. Gordon before
the accident there was signal given three or four
Enthusiastically often to satisfy that the engineer
was doing his duty; at the time of the accident !
was sitting in the front and Mr. Gordon ST., Sit
smoking not full length only half
car regards the length the in the ran into
the smoking car; half of this used for bag
gage the baggage part In the and the following
passed through the baggage portion into the smoking
car; think MT Gordon killed Immediately; his legs
rear car should Judge there fifteen or twenty per-
sons in the smoking car at the time OF the accident;
hn were many u 40 not .nuw nov ,ro, g
wreck; found a memorandum book containing some
three fifty cent pieces, some private papers and some
loose stamps in his pocket did not count them; gave
all to his wife along with his watch and trunk checks;
there neither chain guard TO the watch made
thorough search for the money after had Mrs
Gordon and she had told me of the money; did not
find any II il hid not been for another gentleman point
ing across the ROOM the deceased would heve been in
pocket; the money was stolen, SUPPOSE when the
crash occurred 1 sitting with the Rev. DR..
Of the trouble until we heard the whistle;
the cars Jumped violently before the accident said
there was trouble; and another gentleman helped to
take the body out OF the two negroes helped us to
throw the debris and baggage out OF the window; we
stopped by person whom took to be an empoy6
of the company were lifting him out letter or
package protruded from his coat, and standing by
said he would take care OF IT. he took It in his hands
md I'M IN no IN ,ovA nv 40
was protruding out, and saw the words Express Com
pany IT. that man took out Of his pocket he had
coat on and had checked or hickory shirt; he
thirty thirty five years Of age stands about ve
feet seven or eight inches; ] should know the man
again; he disappeared Immediately after he had got
possession Of the package could not what country
man he was he had light hair
TESTIMONY sYLvASus COOPER
Sylvanus Cooper being duly sworn, testified reside
al No. 4 Elm street. Newark not acquainted with
Henry L. Gordon; did not sec the accident occur on
the railroad; there FIVE minutes afterwards did not
the before accident occurred but heard IL
pass assisted in taking the dead body out OF the car
with the Rev Mr. Strong and two coored men; think
there other In the cars, but they did not
assist; he dead when we found him ! have since
learned that II the body OF Henry L. Gordon; did
not DR. Strong take anything out OF his pocket; In
moving him memorandum book fell out OF his overcoat
pocket picked IL up and afterwards gave 1t to DR.
s pOo o we oas anu from bs
pocket at the spot; II might have been done but did
not see II; there was an envelope sticking out OF MS
pocket do not know how the accident occurred un-
dcrtood the switch wrongly placed the speed the
trans generally think Is faster than IL ought TO DO
through city but do not know the speed they do
run; there there by the name OF Harrison;
think he told me he picked an envelope and gave u
TO the man who had got the other papers, don't recol
lect seeing there having check shirt on, VINO
had reason to suppose was in the employ OF the railway
company.
rHr ESGrSEER's TESTIMONY
John Campbell, being duly sworn, said he resided nj
No SO Somerset street. New Brunswick am an engineer
tho New Jersey Railroad and from Jersey City 70
New Brunswick; run the Washington through train,
leaving New York a eight o'clock run that train this
morning. stopped nj the Market street depot the speed
we run from Market street through the city af Newark
IL about twelve TO fifteen miles an hour generally can
not rccollect the time now we are allowed to make
through the city; don't think we were going over ten
twelve miles an hour this morning; cannot tell ex-
actly; not twelve miles an hour; the train was n
mail tram this morning. the railroad company gives us
orders what speed shall through the city Of New
ark the company furnishes the engineers with book
giving oil instructions and the rate Of speed allowed TO
be made; cannot say exactly what speed We are TO
make through the city, the book Ia at home containing
these instructions; cannot exactly tell how long II is
since looked at IL to tell my speed through the city;
With my train little below Chestnut street,
where there switch leading on TO the turn table, the
Of the accident that the switch was set 70 the
turnout leading 10 the turntable instead OF the main
track; saw the switch wrong just before came on
70 II. but not In time 10 stop; Immediately blew the
sher the brakes were applied or not did ali could TO
stop the cars and remained upon my engine until the
cars stopped think IL was about two hundred yards
from the switch to where smashed up the turn table
is In enclosure the gates closed; We went right
through the gate and through the fence at the lower
and into the son ground noticed that Of the
cars had into another; there we're seven cars
on the train this morning, all told; II had been
running At the rate Of eight miles an hour ana had
used the prccaution AZ did this morning, think
the result would have been the same ] think IL
would be more dificult 70 stop train running at
the rate Of fifteen miles hour than going only
eight; the condition Of the rails was frosty this
morning. and the brake would not take any hold In
sequence and the wheels slid along we had two brate
the train which IL the regular number the bag
gage master also puts brake in case Of emergency
had the track been perfectly dry think could have
stayed the train in time; don't know the switch ten
ders name; he about twenty i've or thirty yards on
this side OF the SWITCH sweeping around with broom,
when came up with the train; the same man has to
attend to four switches; 10 attend TO these four
switches ] don't think any more than what II
should be; some men attend 10 more; the switch
must have been out Of place for about twenty i've min
ues, that being about the time the engine previous had
been the urntabe have boon employed running this
train for eight nine months have never been spoken
to about running this train quick through the city
the switch tender don't think has been so employed
longer than two months II Is important that competent