The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
THE RAILROAD SLAUGHTER
The Southern Railroad Com
pany'e Officers Arraigned.
POPPENHUSENS MANAGEMENT
How He Wantonly Interfered in
the Running of Trains.
THE JURY'S VERDICT.

The investigation into the circumstances OF the
Ro kaway railroad slaughter was concluded yes
| ter lay by District Attorney Downing, who con-
| Quoted 1t in the place OF Coroner Hicks. 1t cul-
minated IN majority verdict OF the jury which
| severely censuros The company. The papers in
| the case viii now be sent to tue District Attor.
ney's once. ana Steps viii probably be taken TO
satisfy the outraged sense OF the community by
! procuring the Indictment for manslaughter OF
the onlcers OF the southern road, who are respoA-
sible for the accident. From what the District
Attorney said yesterday 1t Is TO be inferred that
he intends to lay the case before the Grand Jury
at the earliest possible date.
The testimony adduced yesterday was perfectly
overwhelming so far a. the lncompetency OF the
management and the eulpable recklessness
which marked 1t, especially on the 5th oiJuly,
concerned. Mr.. Barton's testimony regarding
the interlerences OF Poppenhusen ana the latter's
running trains without possessing any expert
ence OF rallroading was very important in that
regard. The testimony OF Mrs. stanclin tho
brakeman's wife, that she had heard the train
from RocKaway coming and warned the conduc-
tor OF the train from New York (HiDbard) against
going on, was connrme by TWO witnesses. Charles
II. Browns testimony poiDte also to Poppenhusen
as culpaole Tor leaving Rockaway too late on
| Holdridge's train.
TESTIMONY OF Mr.. BARR.
John J. Barr, the track master, was recalled.
He was questioned concerning the Presidents &C
tlvity In running the road, and replied that ne
took part in IL he did not think Mr.. Pop
penhusen, the manager, had any previous expert
ence In railroad matters; he did not employ
more orakemen on July s. because he had no au-
thority to do so. This was in relation to the
disputed testimony that there we're not sufficient
District Attorney Downing-Is 1t true that you
were discharged week before the accident?
was notified that 1t was the wish OF Mr.. Poppen-
husen that should be-dismissed; Mr.. Barton IN
formed me at the same time that ne refused to
very damaging statement, made by this wit
ness, was that Smith Patt, the regular engineer
OF the tram from Williamsburg, was di seaarged
just previous to the 9TH OF July and Ashmead put
into the place, who had never run train before.
TESTIMONY OF MR. BARTON.
Mr.. Barton the superintendent, was then re-
Mr.. Downing-what is the actual experience OF
the oflcers OF The road superior to your
Mr.. Barton-I don't think they have any practl-
cal knowledge OF running road.
MIR. Downlng-Dld Mr.. Poppenhusen, neverthe-
less possess Ine power 10 give you orders on that
dayf
Mr.. Barton-Certainly he had, as my superior
officer; ne has mterered with the management
Poppenhusen has ordered trains to 60 on de-
spite the regulations OF the company; cannot
remember the date, but last lalI, on the North
on regardless OF Inc five minutes variation Of
Mr this a. was on the
went out on a train to Garden City with Mr.. Pop
ae sn consucsor was On IT, there was
nearly an accident, which was only prevented BY
PopPENHUsEN's INTERFERENCE.
Mr. Barten admitted also that there was inter
ference on the part OF hr. Poppenhusen in the
| having been signed by him (Barton), were altered
| BY Poppenhusen. When he (Bsrtonl had allowed
| extra allowance. This, he admitted, tenaed to
impair the zeal Of the employees and TO create dis
Mr. DOW nng-Haye you not threatened to re-
sign on account OF all this Interference
Mr. Barton-I have told Mr.. Hinsdae, the vice
president OF the road, that unless Mr.. Poppen-
husen stopped his fnteEference would leave, as
| did not think him 1T man TO interfere with my
business; nave been ON the railroad since 1857.
Mr. Barton admitted that there were frequently
| dlsagreements between him and Poppenhusen in
reference TO making up the time table, but he
tine witness) generally had his way; Poppen-
general management Of tue road, being the
| General Manager.
MORE CRIMINAL cARELEssNEss.
Mr.. Downing-HoW about the refusal OF the train
officers to take the dead or wounded back to
Mr.. Barton-I hope there is no one on our road
80 totally void OF neart. However, cannot say
| anything about IL.
| Mr.. Downlng-There is no doubt that the train
taken back by MIR. Poppenhusen was empty while
1t could nave taken pack some OF the injured.
then asked If the accident could not have been
| avoided II there had been telegraph sta ion At
%s was TsS9yes q as
| could, II the trains mad been run By telc-
graph" ae sdm nds tnat no telegraph SS5i
| burg. The trains, however, were not run Dy
telegraph but BY the rules OF the company. Mr..
| Barton was closely 0ss-questioned, with view
to ascertain whether telegraphlc warning would
have prevented the collision, and contradicted
seemed TO be that under the cast iron, innexloe
rules OF the company scarcely any hing could have
saved the poor victims.
| Mr.. Adam Rich, or Valley stream, was pas
After the accident lady, Mrs. stancn tae
| brakemans wife, said she heard the other train
coming, and asked them not to go on, out they
| said they'd go on, whether or no.
| Charles Ii. Brown was on the train from Rock
| away. He testified that he looked at his watch
| when he entered the train at ROckaWay, and IL
| was seven minutes 10 tive when 1t started; his
watch was running very well, and, being watch
maker at No. 20 Maiden lane, he was not likely TO
be mistaken. Qhls was in contradiction OF the
testimony Of the officers Of the road, Poppenhusen
and the rest that tue train bound 10 Brooklyn lett
RockawaY At :55 on time, aud not al 1853, as tes
| titled to by the witness. In the two minutes thus
| accounted TOR Richards train could have como
In. According to the testimony or the ofIlcers OF
| the road they had no right to start before :55
| ing two minutes earlier Poppenhusen aud Con-
| dnctor Holdridge, who had charge OF the train,
| must nave caused the collision.)
AFTER THE RECESS
Here recess was taken until two O'Clock Dur
ing the recess, as several people complained TO
| able spectacle was witnessed OF the o11sers OF
the company, Mr.. Barton ana others. taking in
| an earnest and persuasive manner TO several
| members OF the Jury. Those anxious for an inl-
| partial verdict felt very sore aboutit,
| Mr.. William f0unqDlood, oil tue Brooklyn Daily
U11ioR testified that he arrived at four O'Clock az
| the sceue OF the disaster, and tho fireman, Finn,
| Rad received no attention whatever thus far me
died SUBSEQUENTLY, ne ascertained from the en-
gineer OF Hlboards train that the train
| ran on It's own time; the passengers
were all very indignant, and declared that the
collision was caused by the culpabIe oarelessress
OF the company. lie corroDorated the testimony
OF Mr. Adam Rich by giving the statement OF Mrs.
Stanon, the brakeman's wife, to this enect:-
Before the train from the beach started from
Rockaway Mrs. Stanclin said to the station agent,
In presence OF Holdrdge, the conductor, "On,
for Gods sake, don't start the train; hear the
other train comngIn she felt so sure OF this, and
that there must be an accident, that she follo we'd
the train, after IL had started despite her pro-
testatons, for some distance, ana, sure enough,
| presently toe collision occurred. This statements
| was made by Mrs. Stanclr to him.
| THE COMPANY'S RHUMANITY.
the witness went on to say that poor Finn, the