The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-04
THE HARLEM RANGE EXPLOSION
The Jury Severely Ccnsure the Land
lords Carclessness and Ascribc the Ac-
cident Thereto.

The Jury Severely Ccnsure the Land
lords Carclessness and Ascribc the Ac-
cident Thereto.
Coroner Herman yesterday held an inquest into
the cause Of death of Mrs. Ella c. Campbell, wno
on the morning OF 2sth December at 14s East 115th
street. was badly burned by the explosion OF a
range in the Kitchen, and from the effects OF which
she subsequently died. Onicer Graham's testimony
was OF no Importance. A nephew Of the
woman, who was present, testified that
about six A. M deceased was toasting bread, hav-
ing built the fire with wood, when the explosion
occurred, and the woman was badly injured and
her clothes were set ON IRE the fire had been
kindled about an nour UeIore Tie oAplv,ivI, tho
woman died at eight O'Clock the same morning.
Ann L. Campbell testified that the night before
witness laid the nre and found the water running
in the taps in the kitchen; the water was running
in the morning. witness swore that the range was
out OF order; twice it had been fixed the house
was hired from one Naldron, an agent of the
owner, John Darragh, of East Fifty second street,
VINO refused to put the house in order. John OAR
ragh testified that he was not informed that
the range was out of order; that DR.. Campbell
fixed the house up to suit himself. Theodore E.
Grippen, the party who put in the range, stated
that ne could not account for the explosion 1t had
been put in three years ago, and he had heard no
complaints about it being detective; there would
be little difficulty in repairing it If it got out Of
order.
DR.. Campbell testified that he hired the house OF
waldron, agent for Darragh; it was in bad con.
dltion, and he agreedtO advance money to put it
in repair; was told that the range was rusty, but
the agent would have 1t put in good order; Costa,
the plumber, informed him that the range was worn
out, and the agent said Darragh would not
go to more expense. Another plumber,
who was called, condemned the range re.
ported the condition OF the range to Darragh,
who refused to repair 1t, and threatened to sue
witness for the rent he had advanced to the agent
to repair 1t; witness leased the house with the
distinct understanding that 1t was to be put In
thorough repair.
Hanford Horton, sanitary engineer testified that
the range was not thick enough to resist the pres.
sure OF the Croton, which, up there is about forty
i've pounds TO the square inch; the iron was only
one eighth OF an inch thck-only sufficient to sus-
tain pressure Of twenty pounds; he was OF the
opinion that the disaster was caused by the insult.
ciency oil the iron to sustain the CrOtOn pressure
Two plumbers, who had fixed the range at diff
ferent times, testified that 1t very dllapdated
and rusty, and by no means in q good condition.
DR.. Cushman gave IL as his opinion that de ceased
died from shock and burns received.
The Coroner, In charging the jury, stated that 1t
was the duty OF the landlord If informed of the de-
ective condition of the range to put 1t in repair
II they found by the evidence that Darragh was
aware OF the bad condition they could censure the
landlord. The jury retired, and later returned q
verdict that deceased came to her death from shock
and scalds produced by the explosion of the range,
and they felt 1t their duty to severely Censure the
landlord Darragh for allowing this defective range
to remain In the house after being notified Of It's
condition.