New-York tribune., 1872-01-30
TIE WESTfIELD EXPLOSION

Ah'O NM oE w. N. DICKERsoN, ESQ, YoR TuR
DEtENpAhf, DELIVERED TO TIE JURY y,
TIE CASE OF LANDRRs ACT TIM sT, -,
ISLAND RAILROAD COMPANY.
May IL please the Court, and G,ntrene, NJ q.
Jury: On beautiful Summers Sun day morning ,vh.
the soft south wind wOong tho tired c.zens ., a.,
crowded city from its dusty streets and beated -.
there was assembled npon tho deck OF n ste,r..
multitude of men aud women and children seekins
recreation and health in the green field. o,.a a,,
groves OF that beautiful island that Ies iavrd S., 80
sparkling waters OF lovely bay like an eroe,,,a 80
set In diamonds pendent the fair bosom OF IN. 60
City Of tho Western World Strong men were a."
wearicd with the IabOrs Of q tresOIno week t,i,,,
women we're there. sharing With their hu.band, o.,
pleasures as they had tharod the tolls Of lfe nn@,
children were there. making Joyous by their pre.eno
and their pratte, that asscmbiage OF rsv 49,,
happy people. just this bright utt,s ,.-
here In court, hko q sunbeam In 49,, ~
place. has been 10 during this ,,,a, g..
II proof Of the goodness OF the Great Greater -
spared him TO his mother when she lost her loyed ,.
ner In ie; All %ere ih5re anticipating the atlacs
dent Of life and pleasure, when In an instant Wiihon,
one moments warning that faithful slave that had boen
bound in chains and iron, working and tolng IN az
dark cayerns OF that gloomy hold burst hs bonds and
with single leap and scream Of hendish Joy. bounded
That moment was fearful; and when that huge whita
misty demon faded away into thin air-faded away 10
rain TO some dropping flower fanting nnse, ih
ysro sn rncaed Ied1sn n and gentle aud good
than a hundred human corpSs-Inore than IN m.in.t
wounded and sealded dread picture that sicEens tho
thrill OF anguish throughout the length and breadth Of
TINS great country for the pulseons Of that mighty
wave OF sound. converted by the mysterious alchemy of
the human soul into thrill OF anguish ybratHd ia every
,,5mGpa19ec ,5G heart wherever that dreadful story
fceng which springs out OF two opposite qualities
nature the gentle and sympathetic and good; hs
propensity which
cIVizcd out OF the heart Of man. and never viii bc,
THE FEELINGS AROUSED
Go back with me to that / will dwell upon t
only for moment 1t Is too painful On tho one eide
stand these gentlemen. who had put this ferry into op
GRAFTON for the accommodation OF themselves and their
neighbors and the other the yictims OF this terrible
dsasterboth alike the subjects OF sympathy and
our cOmmiseratiOn. The owners OF TINS boat however
innocent they WERE however careful and prudent they
had been, felt wound inflicted upon their hearts that
day which will never be healed until the grave eioes
his bosom, however innocent he may be. who has heea
In the remoes degree the cause OF the death oi fellow
being, but carries WIN nun 10 INC as' noor vi us seH
tient life q sorrow that never ceases
The excitement of that hour has not yet subsded Is
waves passion tossing that were reused tas
terrible scene; and to-day IL IL almost impossible oi
you for to recall It, aud pronounce upon ~ Una!
in order that justice may be dOne know, gentlemen,
know because feel IN my own heart that same ieet
ingI know hat there is not one man on tnat u whose
synpaibes and feelings not in favor OF those un
fortunates who were the victims OF that inghnIl
which. IN its nature is entirely rremedable II Tx.
that great fire which devastated the proud Lake Cty M
lifetime Of hundreds OF thousands OF human beings;
carrying with it the insured ana nne bnss nxS
human beings into the presence OF their Maker. end
leaving behind no hope for redress or recovery
THE QUESTION OF NEGLIGEScE.
Hero I'm this case the learned counsel has told you-ha
beon perned by bis honor as an incident Of tins case
TO proye TO you-that human beings went to then
account that day; has proved to you with all its terri
bic features and has put into figures how much money
II all amounts tO-has told y0I that Tor tho.
that were killed. and COZ for those that were INJURED
should be recovered and you see W gisnse .nas ,n
great destruction is entirely Dcapaoie OF Delng .oD
died N IL were single this Company would no!
stand before this BarcOud not afford to stand here anc
contest IT. for however right they might De- tiey Ger
tainy could not AFFORD 10 c9me nefs S iVr a spU Of e
istenee for this company, " IL queston Iof ue VI s
which is whether they have been guilty OF such negit
gence as that they morally and legally chargeabh
oneston ne Is a question upon which before you. tbeJ
are entitled 10 your sympatbes ana Dy ths Jaw tny w.
upon the painiif prove them guilty and until tney
are proved guilty, beyond reasonable doubt TO tns
Won may desire, however much you may sympathlzs
with the unfortunate victims whatever you woud wish
worIdas jurors In this case. under oath. you can
not find verdict except for the deiehuaht
yINDICATIso THE LAW
Gentlemen this case will pass The tide OF life
win be soothcd and painful memories will fade awaJ
But the law will yet endure; the rights OF men wiye
remsin the trial by jury will still exist; and is vastly
important that the trial by jury ana tbe padpe,
Of law should Dc r MAJ "nS hond ne decided
according to sympahes, and contrary to law becauss
the time will come. must come not 10 you, 10 Othen
like YOU and me. when other jury must pass upon
rights; and unless the law be maintained unless ha
is established and enforced chaos has come again. aud
the sword leaps from its scabbard.
Now, gentlemen. 1 propose TO 20 over this case 70
.f,llt .is.n nnf IN mi Np
rhetoric II were capable of IL. propose 10 give
you calm deliberate statement OF what the evidence
In this H. and ask you ask each of you rs ayor
to me, ask IL favor to the clients represent tha!
you in doubt confusion about any statement
evidence shall not ash You to transcend by the breid
Of single hair the limits OF what proved before you
should esteem it great favor and beg OF my learned
brother the other side that II he hears me make any
statement which In his opinion Is not exactly according
TO the evidence he would interrupt me and deny it, snd
give me the opportunity to explain i If can
cause with so much ability with 70 much INDUSTRY ana
WSai e 20 es Of pss are He Knows how 70
gue stion He knows whether he has proved bis ease
and ask him to that And when no speak 70
you, gentlemen. ask you TO follow hm. and $50 Ehesh
he the propositions that propose TO establish DO
fore you by evidence.
EVIDENCE RATHER THAN ELoQUENcs.
And here permit me TO make remark In regard~
the in which this has been tried and 10 sp
peal you whether that remark Is not just which
s that been tried evidently the assumption tha
IL is not necessary this plaintiff prove any be-
fore YOU that Il will be enough to rely upon the cie
0uence Of my learned friend. which. although have
never had the pleasure OF hearing IT, YET the fame Of
reached as far as the other side OF the East River
and we know It will he great and powerful We know
that hc il an orator. as not. We know that when DO
speaks TO you he will warm your blood.
and rouse your passions. and excite your emo
tions We know that he will do that as none
INT an orator can do. But l say, gentlemen.
that this cause has been tried as II he meant not 10 rey
mon the evidence Ia the case, but upon tat atcDes
nnwrr which | am told ho possesses. and whlch hss
rendered his distinguished IN tins great sy: ana
brother has not taken the trouble TO prove
ynn tbat this unfortunate man was Killed py .ls
s~n,osinn. and IL | bad 10 try this upon tns.
cnsIny H. would be impossible for any man on Una,
-. ,.i,r liz SAY TINT the deceased was klheo