Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-07-18
The Newark and New York Railway
Accident-Verdict Of the Jury.

The inquest upon the causes Of the accident
on the New York aud Newark railroad, on
Saturday morning last, by which Eve persons
lost their lives and several others were serious.
ly Injured, was held on the following day At the
scene Of disaster. William Thompson, the
sWitchman, through whose negligence it is al.
legged the accident occurred, is a mere youth,
and is described by the New York papers as
a0 0intelligentlOO and straightforward boy.
He made the following statement:
II have been q brakeman on the gravel
train have been q sWitchman for the last two
weeks on the Newark aud New York road. at
Hrilfs switch have been brakeman Two years
aud half on the Central aud Newark and
New forx was tending the switch yester-
day at Brilrs Station got to the switch At
about ZIG; came up ON the gravel train !:
l turned over the switches and let the train
into the gravel pit TO get gravel; turned
them all back into their proper place again /;
after the 7.35 train from Newark went down.
and the I.l5 from New York came mn. 1
turned all the switches, and let the gravel train
go over on the north track then l turned
the north track switch back again, and thew
backed mp toward Newark then got on the
engine and got drink of water, and iumped
oh by the other two switches on the south
track turned the middle switch back. but
I'm not sure about the other switch; there
the coroner warned the prisoner not 20 saw
anything that would criminate himseIf;) then
went over into the woods, about 100 yards
away; then went TO gathering brush to build
house to keep the rain of never thought
any more Of the switch saw some boys
passing down few minutes before the acci.
/ aRiI
rs the train was coming down, l heard the
sound for brakes il was about opposite the
tank.hOuse, about 500 feet from the switch,
that heard the signal looked at my switch
aud saw that it was wrong, aud started to run
for 1t to turn it right again; before got
across the creek the train was off the track :;
then saw the two engines come together +; l
stayed there three or four minutes, and went
away; never asked any of the railroad men
to build me 4 house I am 10 years old l
was born in tho Bermuda Islands l lived in
Florida two years when l got back TO nv
switch, found the hook was lying on the
sand l always put it in its place TO keep the
lever from jerking out John Kelley and
Peter Flynn, who arc as young as l, used to
tend switches on the Central l never found
my hook on the ground before always kept
It in the switch; l was never switchmau
before"
The jury returned the following verdict
"We, the jurors impannelcd to inquire into
the cause Of the death of Geo. Hill, Frank
Herman, Daniel W. White, John RocEafelIow
and San'l S. Taylor, employees of the New
ark and New York Railroad Company, do find
that deceased came to their death in the CITY
Of Newark, July 8, by collision OF tho sos
n. NJ. train from Newark and the 7.45 train
from New York, in consequence of a Iniss
placed switch; and we, the jury, DO say that
the misplaced switch was the result of care-
Iessness on the part Of the switch tender, Wm.
Thompson; and We do also censure the COM
Pany Of the Newark aud New York railroad
for employing, or allowing to be employed on
their road, young and inexperienced men to
hold responsible positions"
The switch-tender will be remanded into
custody. The New York Tribune says that
the lad left favorable impression by his
simple. truthful story and his air of innocence.
lie made no attempt TO prevaricate in the face
OF the circumstances, aud won the entire sym.
pathy of those who heard him.