The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-12
ROTTEN TELEGRAPH POLES.
NOBODY OWNS THKM-CoNcLUsIoN OF TIE
CORONYR's INQUEST

NOBODY OWNS THEM-coNcLUsIoN OF tn
CoRoNKR's INQUEST.
Coroner Elckhof yesterday morning concluded the
Inquest In the case OF Mrs Anna Mcclure, who was
killed by the falling OF telegraph pole the Sd In
slant
The following testimony taken:-
James Larressey being duly sworn, said: I'll live at
No 90 Henry street; am employed by the Western
Union Telegraph Company; examined the pole thai
fell at the corner Of Suffolk and Grand streets and
found that 1t not the Western Union Com
panys pole; that company has not had any
poles In that street for ten years; rccog.
nized it the pole OF the old Fire and Police Tele-
graph Company that communicated with Essex Market
Edward II. James, NJ d., Assistant Sanitary Super
ntendcnt, being sworn, said:-Wc mad never been
OF the unsafe condition OF the pole that iell
until yesterday we had reports from the police in
reference to unsafe telegraph poles, except IN IL
stance carly last spring, when immediate action
taken If We had been informed of the dangerous
dition wc should have verified tho and then the
case would have been referred the Department OF
Public Works, and ii danger was imminent we should
have referred it to the police for immediate action;
Board OF Health has power Interfere in
regard membranes except to refer TO the de-
partmcnt under which It falls
Charles I. Chester being sworn, said:-I am a ele.
graph builder, aud Office Is n, No. 10i Centre strceti
am JOINT contractor IN putting up the fire telo
graph SYSTEM the Old tire telegraph lines and po.es
verted to by the terms OF the contract November g.
1871 sold them to W. f. Coffee, secretary and
agcr OF tho Manhattan Telegraph Company. and
ccvcd the money Tor them some OF the lines they
bulli and Others they neglected 10 rebuild that
pany Is still IN eXstcnce transferred carefully
ranged map IN diagram OF every route aud line which
tell IN my pc session, winch sold to HIM Coffee;
there was nothing IN the contract which called Tor the
removal OF the poles; know nothing reference to
Ia N a N thn Ain that fall
whether sold the pole or not II Il was the dia.
gram transferred to Mr. Conee sold II; sold tho
routes, &C.. by diagram
Seth C. Douglass, beng sworn, sad:--I am Supcrin-
tcndcnt OF the Bureau of incumbraucos complaint
OF any person that pole was dangerous have notified
the company and 1t has been attended to; have re-
moved some two three poles that reported
a. dangerous, do not think there any question
my power 10 remove them anS | should have re.
moved tins had been reported TO me- sometimes
citizens and again police report things dangerous;
then remove them reside where the polo stood
that cli but did not notice that 1t WAS in a dangerous
condition
Charles +. Judson officer OF the police, attached
to the Thirteenth precinct, being sworn, said II
ported the telegraph pole that eil danger
July II, is7a
William =. Appcbaush, being sworn, said:-T am
superintendent OF tho Manhattan Telegraph Company;
| examined tue pole that Tell, corner OF Suffolk aud
Grand streets and other poles that had boon down.
that standing gu tue west side OF Suffolk
street, and saw no marks by which could
idea as to the company to which the poles belonged;
am not aware OF Tho TACT that the company represent
acquired any lines or poles from Mr.. Chester; Mr.
Coffee, the former superintendent refused to turn
over he papers IL tho new superintendent and Is
under contempt OF court
Officer Judson being recalled, 81 was on post 10
the morning; Oihcer S!ebert and said tho
pole Was dangerous and would iai.down and hurt
OIccr Sicbcrt, Roundsnan DabigI and my sell
ATTEMPTED 10 push the pole down; when loIt the
pole leaning against the attached Tho oIhci
pole the corner OF Suffolk aud Grand streets; thai
morning when went TO the stalion house reported
the iacls 70 the sergeant N command the usual
Deputy Coroner Marsh being sworn said IL have
made an external examination OF the body of SAID
woman, and found death was due to shock from q
pound comminuted fracture OF the skuii nvovina
the lett paticial temporal ami occipital homes
Coroner Eickhof here informed the Jury men that M
record OF the olccrs report TO the sergeant could b,
found at tho Thirteenth precinct station house TINT
jury then retired and, alter long elaboration
brought III tho following
VERDICT.
'Ann Mcclure to her death by Injuries received
folk aud Grand streets August B. 1876.
I'VE, The jury, believe that tho parties owning the
pole are censurabo Tor allowing pole IN that coudl-
ton to stand
1--WE deem It highly important, that the Board OF
foiice commissioners should carefully inquire why tho
reports ol tue dangerous condition the polo do
not reacn Police Headquarters after having been re-
ported by the officers on duty AT that post
1--WE recommend that the proper authorities make a
careful examination OF the telegraph poles this CITY
aud remove all that are In u condition dangerous 10
life and limb.'