The New York herald., 1870-04-30
THE LANE TRAGEDY.
Conclusion Of the Inquest Charge Of Coroner
Burns-The Jury Shirk the Question-A
Curious Verdict for Jerseymeu-A
Peep Into the Jury Room.


T.. - hast tine inquest the body OF poor Patrick
Lane who was mercilessly driven Off a New Jersey
railroad train and consigned to almost immediate
destruction at the Hackensack bridge Is concluded.
The result OF This inquest has been watched
with great anxiety by the public. and the
result wA take many BY surprise. To send
. man into eternity before his time is the popular
defnition OF murder and the case OF poor Lane was
attended with such aggraxatng circumstances that
public opinion was very decisive on the outrage.
The evidence acdnced ar the inquest showed that
the unfortunate offered eight cents to the con-
ductor, leaving balance OF seventeen cents In the
fare; that he pleaded earnestly to be allowed
TO ride to Newark, where he would pay
the conductor; that he showed the shield
ON mis- vest proving him TO be constable OF Hudson
county; thai when all his entreaties and explana-
uoas failed and he became mortified at the humili-
ating position in which he placed In the sight OF
the other passengers, he ordered on the car by
Parker. The unfortunate man complied very promptly
and without the slightest show OF resistance
IN fact with graceful acquiescence, according to
ParkeI's own testimony. He stepped of the plat
form OF the car, overwhelmed with confusion, ana
his nrst thought was to get clear OF the track
to avoid passing train. He CROPPED along few
steps, and then another, which carried him into the
dep ms OF the Hackensack and him on from his
world. This is o summary OF the evidence given on
Tuesday. At seven O'Clock last evening the inquest
was resumed, and the following additional evidence
was given:--
THE sHoEr PASSAGE TO DEATH.
4. F. Preston, teacher, OF Rverhead, Long Island,
deuosed--l was on the twenty minutes past six z.
N. train from Jersey City on November 20 last; saw
the conductor tParker> In conversation with a pas
senger whose name / learned was Patrick Lane ;
could not hear the conversation, they were several
seats In front of me; Lane go out OF the Car 10y
the 'front.' platform and the conductor go after him.
wien Lane stepped out he did not rush rapidly but
walked quietly tie IT. OK IN dragon nj di
uon II was preston that he wanted TO ct clear
OF the ratk so as TO avoid pass ng tram; the night
was 30 dark that person cou see but very short
distance; when heard the alarm about man going
overheard got out and tried to make my way tOthe
edge where ~ was SAID Lane fell or; the night
was 80 dark that ! could not see
whether there was stringpiece there not;
lmoved carefully along till reached tne edge and
lay down and looked into the wafer. but could not
see thing there 1t was so dark; the light was IN
my eyes from reading IN the cars, which perhaps
made the darkness still greater to ME; TN conver-
sat on had with conductor Parker afterwards, he
told nae that Lane was neither imperinent nor in
1Oxlcated.
Everett Merreau deposed-I re.fde at Hoboken;
am u Telegraph operator at the Mo ris and Essex
depot; saw Patrick Lane on the 10th OF last NoveR-
ber between five and SIX O'Clock Ia the afternoons
met him In the hail OF the Morris and Essex depot;
he said he thought he was emitted to It;
replied that hal no authority to give passes In the
absence OF the super ntendent; then ,e t him in
the hall; the ght smelled llquo- on him.
To q juror-he did not act as II he were drink,
whlskey on him II he mad not been drinking: yet he
was sober enough 10 get up and down through tie
depot
Peter Curren testiaed:-I reside IN Hob0ken and
am clerk to the superintendent OF the Morris aud
Essex Railroad; saw Patrick Lane on the 2eih OF
November last about ha f-past i've O'Clock IN
tle afternoon; was sitting III the ONCE when he
came IN and asked me Tor pass TO E,s Newark; l
dd not give him one; he was under the influence OF
liquor; he was not dunk, but had been drinking.
Juror--Iiow do yoh know thai he Was under the
INN uence OF liquOr?
smel led the liq ior on him; lie acted though lie
was under he influence Of LIQUOR; put him on, be-
cause. he wanted 20 60 into he supeiintenten's
Office for pass AFT r refused him.
FINDING OF THE soDY.
J0hl waters Sworn--l feside IN Bergen CITY; I
was ,,ne Of the persons who found TIE hody of
Fatrclt Lane; Danel 5. Vreeand and / Were gong
down III; rver 10 fix Cur nets when we discovered
Dani Il S. vreeiand deposed-r was in company
wish 10 I'm Waters when we found The bo " Of Patr
Lane; found constable shield, No. 16 in tn vest
OF t,e deceased, and took of and gave 1t 10 the
Coroner.
CoroDe r Burns then addressing The jury, spoke
as follows:-Gent!emen, in this very melancholy !
bylaw 10 make The investigator as salts actorg as
possible. Officers OF this county were sent by NE |
sory mtyh be- pgouceS I heore e
have very few words t. say ABOUT the evidence in
which there are many Important discrepancies, and
slder But l will say hat the word outside
watches your deliberations with unusuaI in-
that your verdict brnes no reproach on |
you. sThe main questions iGr your consl!efatlon |
70 ride on that car to NewarKf II he would then
somebody is responsible for his death. 1t is for You
e. % On the I ropeT p ,,s Iary m
Til world was iessened 10y one se Ond through the
tOn OF anybody, 1t 10 your province to determ ne
wis, the party s and state the iacC IN your rct.
AnA you must bear this in MIND that railroad
com pany aver obta ned charter IN his sta with
tbe wvsege Of beng allowed - put on r. .ssenQer
as iLEy would bag of freight at any place they
chose. Passengers not provided with money or |
bound 10 respect. This case an in, asion-- |
VIOLA ton OF those iishs. IL is In ev1den that
Lane tsred the amount OF the lare, less by seven-
teen cei VS. Snd want OF this mail sum he lost his
lie. Re Uieniber genWemen. you aie ABOUT to de- |
Ill craze Nna question OF llie and DEATH and with |
this adm SnitIon pace the case in your hands.
THE JURY RETIRE
at eight elock, and half an hour eapees in discus
sion OF the case. Hall q dozen verdicts are drawn
WHICH snow Td seven Ior exoaeratng the conductor
entirely anLt 1--WE Tor sending him to tr.al ior man
slaughter 0ne.lies at full length ueon bench and
smokes clp ar another stretches his legs upon the
table aud picks has teeth the foreman closes his
make up thsar mind to nave long stay. |
One OF the younger members Of the jury
Conductor as nigniy deserving aad isitu u ofcer
and Moves a clause In the verdict recommending |
that the railroad company pay him his wages tDr the
time that has elapsed since his dismissal This out
rageous proposition evoked such storD Of indigna
tIon that 1t fell 10 the ground Al ten minutes past
Gen they agreed on tie following
VERDICT.
We find that Patrick Lane came 10 his deata by
accidentally walking or falling from the Hacien-
sack bridge into the river after ordered Of
the cars or the New Jersey Railroad Company 10y
Parker, and censlge the said |
company for inS%IuctnQ their conductJEs !
to put or passengers from heir cars, exceit al
tiors and for not having railing at each sie of
their bridge. We call tue attention O. tie Grand
Jury to This matter that they may see whether the
bridge Is properly Droected for The safety or per
sons crossing aud Ior lauding passengers on the
same.
The following are the names Of the Jnry:-Uosea |
F. Clark foreman; Richard Cos1rove, George 5. |
Piympton, william aaarney, William Pearsail, James
Mesh John MlseInan. Adlm lncks. L0An MeCarLDy. |