New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-02
ruK NRw.JRRsEY CENTRAL mAs
eACRE.

Yesterdays railway murder has its lectures
of originality, though not entitled LII ccnp"A''
son with some other massacres, TO rank aS
specimen of high art Our Information co"'
earning it is from two sources; somc"h"t
vague, but probably correct, from the pasSeh'
gers, and another from the company'S olncerS'
which is in fact, considerably more damaging 70
them than tho story told by outsiders. We lind
m engineer of @ coal train, who knows that on
express train is running close behind him, de-
liberately stopping his own train on curve
without sending flag to the rear. Ills motive
may hayo been the best in tho world,
but in Judging Of railway slaughters. motives
arc nothing to the purpose. We may concede
that, as general thing, engineers do not intend
to cause collision. Corporations could un'
doubtedly hiro largo number of men OF tho
best possible intentions, but no knowledge OF
engines or skill in running railway trains, but
when a crash comes in consequence OF their
gross ignorance or gross carelessncss neither
tho law nor common sense requires proof OF
intent in order to hold them guilty of man
slaughter. Tho engineer in this case violated
what wo must presume to be standing rule OF
the company and is praised for it, or at least
apologi1ed for, in consequence, by the officers Of
the company in their dispatch TO the public.
Against such collision as this last, it ought
to be known there is perfect preventive In
patent brake which the New-Jersey road might
have used, lad it chosen. Creamer's brake
will stop a train under full hcadway almost
instantly. 1t is in use on many roads. the
Hudson River for one. and very lately saved
the lives Of lis passengers on train which ran
of the track by a misplaced switch, and WAS
brought to a stand by applying this brake.
Its valuo must be well known TO the
officers Of the New.Jersey Central. They
will not deny that it might have pre-
vented yesterdays accident, and they VIII
no, pretend there was any excuse for not having
used 1t except the expense of it. That may be
an excuse to the mind Of railway director, but
is worse than none to the public. We hold
every superintendent and president and director
personally and criminally responsible FOL
ncglccting TO employ every possible saleguard
Human life is not to be weighed out against
few dollars saved to importunatc stockholders
! Bat our roads are managed on TN
general principle of taking the chances. super
intendents will not adopt improvements beior
an accident because they think il possible NJ
accident may occur; they will not adopt then
?. af,cr because tha, would he an admission tha
their own neglect or parsimony had contributes
TO the disaster Wharton's switch, for instance
is 10 arranged that train cannot leave the mail
track unless the lever is held at the time in tn
hands Of the switchman. Such q con'rivance /
security against numerous accidents, but 0l
how many roads do we, or shall We soon. flint
, it employed Some day we hope for goo'
, railway law, stringent il all its provisions
with an honest and Competent Board of Com
mis,ioners TO administer it. with authority 4
investigate accidents. apply remedies and pen
aties, and require Of every road the Use 0
every possible improvement and rrecaution
How many more murders must there he betor
public opinion takes shape in such u statute!