New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-24
VANDERBILT IN THE TOMBS.
The NIflliouaires Appealing to Judge Sufh-
erIand-The Determination of the Au'
thorities TO Make an Example-A Les
SON for the Autocrats of the Ferries.

From New York Paper.I ~
AT eleven o'clock yesterday morning,
Captain Jacob III. Vanderbilt, president,
James w. Braisted, Superintendent, and
Harry Robinson, the colored engineer of
the Staten Island Ferry Company. pre-
sented themselves at Coroner Keenan's
Office in answer to the writ for their arrest.
George Law and other wealthy friends of
the prisoners were already there. Mr. Law
offered TO give any amount of bail for the
appearance of the prisoners. but Assistant
District Attorney Sullivan objected, saying
that under the law the coroner has no right
to accept bail OR commitments where the
crime charged is homicide. After short
consultation on the point, Coroner Keenan,
ordered the. committal of Captain Wander
bilt, Superintendent BREASTED, and the en-
gineer, Robinson, to the Tombs without
bail.
While awaiting the coroner's decision,
Captain Vanderbilt and his fellow prisoners
were concealed from public view in back
room connected with the Office. Captain
Vanderbilt was nervous aid agitated, but
did not for a moment imagine that the
president of the Staten Island Ferry Com
pany would be immurred in dungeon in
the Tombs., When the fact was commune
Gated to him, he started with astonishment.
He restrained himself, however, and with
comparative calmness said to police Captain
Ullman:
swell, Wen go to the Tombs.'
BREASTED was the most collected of the
three prisoners, but Robinson, the engineer
was in state of utteH detection.
But little stir was created by the transfer
of the prisoners to the Tombs. They reached
the prison at noon, and Captain Vanderbilt,
after giving his name to the clerk near the
gate at the Franklin street entrance, was
escorted to cell SO, in the second tier. He
entered with deep-drawn sigh, stood for
moment looking around the narrow apart
ment, and then began pacing the floor in
nervous, agitated manner.
BREASTED and Robinson were consigned to
separate cells near that of their chief
BREASTED entered quickly and sat down.
Robinson seemed to suffer intensely. The
tears trickled down his swarthy cheeks as
he paced the floor with quick, nervous
strides.
Meanwhile, Mr.. A. G. Brown, the counsel
of the Staten Island company, was striving
to effect the release of his clients. Finally
he secured a writ of habeas corpus from
Judge Sutherland, of the supreme court,
and, armed with the potent document, he
made his appearance at the Tombs just
one hour after the incarceration of his prin-
cipals.
The iron doors swung open, and the three
prisoners were taken before Judge Suther-
land. When the party arrived counselors
Carney, who wants $34, 900 for work which
he has done on the new courthouse. The
prisoners took seats and waited till the con-
clusion of this case.
Captain Vanderbilt had evidently suffered
much during his brief imprisonment. His
eyes rolled wildly over the courtroom as
though seeking some sign of friendly re-
cognition. His hair was unkept, giving to
the whole man a peculiarly wild appear
ance. At length George Law and others of
the captains friends entered and took their
seats beside him. He seemed more at ease
then, and waited quietly until the case was
called.
Mr.. Brown approached the bar and said
Your honor, we are not here to claim re-
lease, but simply that we may be admitted
to ball.
Judge Sutherland: Yes, yes; know that.
Mr.. Sullivan, what have you to saw
Assistant District Attorney Sullivan: Your
honor, these persons are in custody on a
writ from the coroner, predicated on the
testimony adduced in the inquest over the
Westfield explosion. Over one hundred
lives were lost, and these defendants are al
legged to have been in charge of the boat.
The coroner committed them without bail
upon my advice.
Judge Sutherland. What offense will Won
ask the grand jury to indict them for9
Mr.. Sullivan: regard the ofense as being
manslaughter in the third degree.
Judge Sutherland: What is the penalty
for that
Mr.. Sullivan: Imprisonment in the State
prison for four years. With regard to the
application made here, your honor, | have
to say that in such cases it has been my uni
form practice, as district attorney, to OPP
pose bail where the grand jury has not
found an indictment. The grand jury comes
together on the twenty-eighth. / ask your
honor to refuse bail until then.
Mr.. Brown: So, please your honor, all this
appears to me very unfair. Ii Captain Van
derbilt is president of the company, there
are other stockholders, mango whom have
more stock than he. BREASTED is the super
intendent, Robinson the engineer. The YER
dict of the coroner's jury is:
That the deceased. Andrew Coyle and
Others, died through rupture or explosion
OF the boiler of the steam ferryboat West
field, July 80, 1871; that said explosion was
caused by flaw in the iron, and by the
negligence of the engineer, Robinson, in
carrying an over-pressure of steam; that
tine company are responsible for the disas-
ter, as the defect could have been detected
If the Staten Island Ferry Company had
had a competent ship master, engineer and
mechanic in their employ, and were, there |
fore, criminally negligent We recommend |
the district attorney to give prompt action |
in the matter. We also think that the gov |
eminent inspection is very defective as now |
conducted.
So far as the president is concerned. the |
verdict does not touch him. /
Judge Sutherland: The engineer is |
charged with negligence
Mr. Brown: Yes. and under the fourteenth |
section of the law, possibly every officer of |