The New York herald., 1870-04-27
THE LANE TRAGEDY.

The LANE TKAGEDY.
How . traveller Toppled INTO
Htern;ty.
>~.>~~-~->~-~~~~~~~~~~
Full Details Of the Hackensack Bridge Out
rage-The coroner's Inquest at Jersey City
Testimony Of Eye Witnesses Spicy Tilt
Between the Jurors Conductor Parker
Allowed to Give Evidence and
What He Says
The inquest on the boly Of Patrick Lane, . pas
senger on tho New Jersey Railroad, VINO was
drowned ct the Hacsensaok bridge November 90
1859. was commenced yest rday morning In Jersey
City, before CORNER Burns. The details Of the oc-
currencc are yet fresh in the minds OF the public The
investigation created much interest the Uoroner's
oflcs being beieged at an early nour. The railway
company whose line the sal afair TOOK place
seemed through lts 0ficas, TO regard the proceed
ings yesterday with much anxiety. Bystanders
were unhesitating in giving full expire sion to
Their feelings respecting the unprotected character OF
the bridge oyer which the poor benighted traveller
toppel headlong into eternity. TIE bridge, as viii
lie seen by the evidence, was some four and twenty
feet in height; the depth OF the rushing tide over
forty. Alter being removed from the car, having but
seventeen cents--i0o little to pay hisflre-
the unfortunate man, wh0 all the wit
nesses testified, was perfectly sober, foun-
desei over the string piece, and, turning
il were to take last look at the train that
leaving him in the dark disappeared In the twinkling
OF an eye. and never spoke again. The jury evi-
IDENTITY saw OF what value handra would have
been and the foreman ntimated that they would call
attention to its future usefdiaess. Parker, the
ductOr OF the car, was in attendance, and although
not represented by counsel, appeared TO have sur
surrounding him parties who throu ghou5w earnest
in looking after the interests OF tie company and
consequently bis exoneraion from blame. The DIS.
tilt Attorney, Mr.. Garretson, was very mute, beng
evidently overcome with the oppressive nature OF the
atmosphere; but his place was voluntarily and ably
hlel by shrewd and intelligent juryman named
Cosgrove, who male commendabe Efforts to silt the
case to the very bottom. Tie widow OF Constable
Lane was also in the Coroner's once during por-
tion Of the proceedings, and her presence seemed
to recall In vivid form the terrible fate that befel her
ill-starred spouse. Coroner Burns pursued his busi
ness lndelatigably. AS VIII he seen, the testimony
adduced is more less conflicting aud tends make
the result more difiicat where0n TO Speculate. The
Coroner with the consent Of the District Attorney
and the jury, allowed the conductor to make state.
ment which will be seen below. Shortly. after
ten O'Clock, the jury having been sworn. tile foow-
ing evidence was ecitcd:-
s-lst. TESTIMONY OF ). R. PERSON
John II PielsJn Was the first witness and depOsed
as foiiOws:-i reside at Newark; Was acquainted
with Patrick Lane, the deceaseu saw him at half
coalition was then as sober as any man know of; ;
his health was very goods thai was the INST time;
saw HIM at nine O'Clock In the morning a. Newark;
man in Jersey City issued by Squire Green; he was
TO give Il to constable on Monday, and WAS TO call
at my house az niGe O'CLOCK; that Monday previous
'to the drowning; he called at my house on Tuesday
mornings tnat was the first time ever saw him; We
both proceeded to the Centre street depot; bought
TWO return tickets; gave hun one; We both occupied
the same seat In the cars at jersey Guy; We
subsequently went to make the levy; we found
difficulty about 1t on unit OF Dill oil "a g; we
ccu,d not make the levy and we passed outside;
told him TO go TO the Codrt House aad would wait
for him IN Newark until three o'clock he then went
away and that was the last time saw him, the exc.
cutOn was In my interest.
TESTIMONY OF PATRICK BEAKEs.
Patrick Beakes teStlfed--I reside at No. 85T
Newark avenue, jersey City; saw the decea ed on
the day referred to- he was at my store thai day and
iet between eight and Tn c'c9ck IN the iofenoon
the last ! saw OF MN; ne appelred 10 be Ia good
health and Ia ional.
John Boyan tes1fed-I reside III High street,
Newark; was not acquainted with the deceased
prior to his death; recoect the occurrence spoken
OF; left IN the twenty minutes past six train from
New York; the conductor passed throu sh the cars to
collect The tickets; he came to tas man who
know what he asked him for; l suppose
il was for his ticket and beng three behind
without getnG his ticket and proceeded to otner
car and soon returned again. h. got back just as We
wele
ENTERING THE ROCKS;
when this passenger commenced 10 look through his
pockets fo his ticket the conductor, Mr.. Parker, Sat
.e ra Oh der e seat ts time 20 the % m e
ger was looking through his pocket to
find his ticket; the conductor had meanwhile but
a gnt i'm "a
lngiy still; we at ength arrived ut West End; the
conductor left MIN and went out on the platform to
get ms passengers on AMI OIL Lhe car; as soon as
tae tram started the conductor came Immediate TO
HIM and asked him Tor his ticket; the first word l
neard was ,ssI askIug h% sa,, for MS ticket
BELL ROPE WAS PULLED
for the train To be stopped; the train went con-
siderable distance before 1t stopped; do not think
we had proceeded 200 yards before the bell rope was
pulled when the train stopped this passenger, whom
suppose was Mr.. Lane, got up and walked forward
TO the 'front.' platform OF the Car he was In and got
on; Immediately holsted the window at my seat
and put my head out; as soon as he landed on the
bridge he looked al0unf for moment, AS sup
posed,
TO SEE WHERE WAS;
he then commenced 10 walk across dIagonally to the
north s1e OF The bridge; he hrst crossed one rail,
then the second and thea commenced to climb over
the string piece: just at that time the cOnduc or
cdeh out, stop; look out you viii be overboardn q
he continuel and lell overheard; the train
had moved about ten feet during this time;
l.. with other passengers, at once got out
bridge to look for hin; did not bear any Sound
RON him alter he left !. the bridge; the conductor
it hang over the side Of The bridge, and clled out to
ns e5 M ns n tS ss ss Jssas 45d T r h ]sabs5
Over ane 50 noiered t6e siis 70 the mani cried
oat 10 hun myself we got no response; there wera
~ TWO SMALL BOATS CAME; r se~
| almost Immediately they were r0wed under the
bridge several times; they rowed above and below
the bridge and along each shore 20 look for the man
after spending from ten TO fifteen minutes IN search
ol the man We all got in the train and wenI a0ng.
Q. Wnen you looked In the water first was there
any sign Of strugglngs A. No, sir.
q. Did you see any difficulty between him and the
conductor? A. No; there was conversation going
on when he was standing up looking for his ticket;
he was little excited, as aay other person would be
| In the same position.
To aluror-I was three seats behind the decease d
| In the car
q Was he put Off, or did he go or voluntarily A.
He got OIL himself; the cOnductOr did nos put his
hand on MIN; 1t was dark, drtzzly night, little
warm.
| q. How could you see him when he got orr A.
The light from the conductors lantern and the light
l dya MAJ yh N & a n ua