New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-22
0u the o@eials Blamed for Culpable
Neglect.
TEN LIVES sAcRIFIcED.
A MIN RITY VERDICT.
Attempt to Shield the President and
Conductor.
Special Dispatch to The N. Y. Tribune.

Special Dispatch to The N. Y. Tribune.
BRIDGEPORT, Monday, Aug. 81, 1866.
The following is the verdict in the Housa.
tonic Railroad accident. made public to-day.
This verdict goes to the Superior Court now and II
will be the office Of the StaeAorney To prosecute the
guilty or cupable parties, Coroners jures having,
under the Connecticut statutes authority or power
TO punish or determine the extent Of guilt Of the par.
ties whose acts have caused the death any person
or persons. being restricted to simply inquirng into
cause.
THE VERDICT.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY. 8. s., BRIDGEPORT AUG. le 1865.
The undersigned jurors, beng dny empanneled and
sworn to inquire the and the death
Of Mrs. f. D. Wakeman, Mrs. Henry Lamberton Mrs.
Maria Thorne, Mrs. S ,rah Egan Mrs Charlotte
Cable Samuel Crofuf, VIM. Memolt, Thos 0'Brieu.
George w. Mansfield and Samuel b. Demming. do find
said persons came to their deaths ON the 18th
and 10th days Of August, Ices. they being pas.
sepgers on the Housatonic Rslroad about
four miles north Of Bridgeport, in consequence
Of collision between the locomotive Fairfield and the
regular morning passenger train from bridgeport TO
Pitisfcld said passenger train having overtaken
disabled freight train Trumbul Church, was back
ing toward Bridgeport and In connection with said
fr light train at the time Of collision The passenger
train left Bridgeport at Is minutes before II a. and
the locomotive Fairfield about Is minutes later aud the
motive was sent out on trail BY Mr. ndrew winsow
master mechanic of the Housaonic Ra.rcad, and was
under the charge Of Edward R. Lyman. engineer.
The collision occurred at in the road at about
IL go o'clock m. The passenger train In charge
OF Mr.. H. L. Plumb. conductor who was accompanied
by Mr.. Charles Hunt President and Superintendent OF
the road. The Instructions from Mr.. WiIsIow to the
engineer Lyman. were either 70 60 a short distance
up the road or to 20 four five les. the evidence
being conflicting this point. The jury find among
the printed regulations Of the Housatonic Railroad
with which the master mechanic aud all conductors
and engineers were furnished. the following:
Rule S. Station Agent is required to hand the con-
ductor OF each train memorandum OF the time OF
departure Of the preceding tram IL trains are stopped
road the conductor must always send signals IN
each direction and the conductors Il tri della! ed az
stations the tine OF another tram nusf SEND sgnss
to the appro iching train.
Raie IL. red flag by day and red lantern by night
must always be exhibited upon IN engi q, when an
engine other than that OF reeui train Is to folow
and in regular train Is divided into two or more
distinct trains flags will be keps flying on the engines
Of all the trains except the last. white dag ed
upon engine is xno that an extra train Is soon TO
p IS In an opposite direction.
| Rule 20. In all If doubt take the side track
The jury find that regulation No. 10 violated By
M Andrew Winslow. master mechanic. and Edward
r. Lyman engineer. by emitting ~ place ftg on the
preceding train they having the entire control Of the
locomotive Fairfield. We also find Il OF regulation
No was violated BY Mr. Charles Hunt President and
Superin endent Of the road and also by Mr. Henry l.
Plumb conductor Of the passenger train, by emitting
20 send signals in each direction when the tram was
stopped the road being the duty Of said conductor
10 insist upon strict adherence to the regu ations not
whstandng the presence and directions OF his superior
officer We also nd that Rule No. 90 was violated ny ali
the above named parties Had not these proper and
sanitary regul atoms been disregarded these terrible
results would not have occurred In consequence Of tho
careless neglect Of these simple precautions by the on"
GERS aud employees of the road 10 lives have been
sacrificed We the undersigned jurors, therefore h:y'
ing considered the evidence given to US, DO on
our oaths say Mrs. 4. O. Waterman Mrs
Sarah Egan, Mrs. Henry Lamberton, Mrs. Maria
Thorne, Samuel Crofut, William Memott,
Thomas OBren. George W. Mansfield samuei d.
Dcmming and Charlotte Gable came TO their DEANS RON
a collision on the Housatonic Railroad on the 10Th Gay
OF August. 1865 between passenger tram ana tho
locomotive Fairfield which collision occurred in conse-
onenee Of the cuipabe negligence and want OF proper
care and caution on the part Of Charles Hunt President
and Superintendent, Henry L. Plumb. conductor. An.
drew Wnsow, master mechanic, and Edward Lyman
encipeer on said railroad"
DWIGHT MORRIS, Foreman.
lanes +. Dunbar, Samuel b. Sumner, VIM. w. Hol.
comb Lery Ii. Hubbell, James A. Bal ks, l.. Myron
Slade, r. fomlinson. WIN. Way, George w. Olmstead.
MINORITY VERDICT.
We dissent to some parts Of the whole. To so much
of the above verdict as relates TO Mr. Andrew Wins
low, master mechanic Of the Company. and Edwin H.
LYMAN engineer of Engine Firleld. We fully concur
with the rest of the jury; to that part Of the verdict
relating to Charles Hunt. President Of the Company,
and Henry l.. Plumb. conductor of the passenger
train we are unable to give our assent.
Taking the 5th regulation itself, understand 1t re-
qures train that has been stopped to flag approach
ing trans only We think this the true and just con.
sructon whether this rerr'tion is viewed alone VI IN
connection with the 10th ECU alton, and 1t Is admitted
that such has always bcen ne construct gwen oy
the officers and employees of the Company NJ nag was
placed on the engine Of the passenger rain and under
tho 10th reonlaon no engine train had right TO be on
tho track At nil iii IS minutes before 2 o'clock the regular
time for the next train leave the Bridgeport Depot.
ard under these regulations there could be no approach
inc train on the track till that hour This passenger
train had az least % minutes in which to back down
3, miles to Bridgeport before any engine train had
the right to approach this track. Had regulation IL
been complied with this engine would have been
AN approaching train and In that event had neither the
President or conductor filled to have sent out flags as
required by the 9Th regulation they would have been
guilty of criminal negcct but under these regulations
we cannot find that Mr. Hunt or Mr. Plumb have oeen
guilty Of negligence or carelessness In the manase"
OF this passenger train Noncompliance with resaa