Connecticut western news., 1878-03-07
The Tarifsvi,ie verdict.

ing to the Hartford Post comments on the recent report of the eight jurymen on the Tariffvtlle disaster, as follows:
 have just read the report of the eight jurymen on the Tariffville disaster. have no theory of my own to which wished to of ascertaining the true cause of the ecci- dent as any one of the jurymen. was un- able to see how in any event blame could attach to the present board of directors of the road. expected very likely that the directors who suffered the bridges to go un | covered oyer the time admissible for cover | ing, might be criticised, while I have no idea the accident resulted from such omis sion. The evidence from tests and experts clearly warrants this conclusion.
 In section three the eight jurors say "all were moving slowly" etc. How do they dispose of McDermot's testimony, a good engineer and a reliable man, who was act ing as fireman at the time, who was conf dent his engine was derailedF Clark Em. mors. a railroad man of lorg experience and thoroughly reliable, was alike confident that one of the engines was off the track and he found one of the braces that had been struck, as he believed, by the pilot. Also MT. Mitcheson, who was selected by tEe jury to look for evidence, and who re- ported there still remained several ties that gave evidence of a wheel having passed over them.
 Sec. They say "!f the material of the bridge at the time of construction were of suitable quality. quantity and proportion" etc. Why the "T'" Why not say whe,h
 CT they were or not suitable. etc. ''That the iron suspension rods from being over strained or from some other cause, had lost their tensile and sustaining power." l am unable to recall the evidence of the iron having lost It's tensil strength and power by overlooking. To what other cause do they allude The testimony of MT. Bacon. Rail road Commissioner, was that iron heavily loaded did not lose its tensile strength, but, on the other hand, it would be increased, but would break more easily from sudden or side blow, which, upon their theory, the iron in this case did not have.
 Sec. 6. They say ''the directors are re- sponslble largely, etc. Was there but one opinion from all the practical bridge build
 CTS and engineers, and that that the failure
 was not in the timber2 The evidence was
 perfectly convincing On this point, and that
 the failure was in the iron, no matter how
 occurring. 1 cannot understand how deteri-
 oration could have taken place when the
 tests of six samples of the broken rods aver
 aged from 55, GOO pounds to the square inch.
 The poorest rod found stood strain of
 some 40, 900 pounds If all had been of the
 poorest it would then have been only half
 loaded. Even MT. Merriam, as l recollect,
 coincided in this, that the iron and not the
 timber failed. ln conclusion they say, "It should no longer be considered an interfer.
 ence on their part (directors) If they meddle with the doings of the superintendent in the management of tbe road and offer some thing more than suggestion" What is meant do rot understand. The superin- tendent obeys any orders from the directors !. or president, and they have DO hesitation in
 giving such orders, as I learn. In October
 last the Railroad Commissioners. with Will
 lam H. Yeomans, then superintendent, MT. , Greer, the roadmaster. MT. Keen, the } bridgemaster, ard MT. JoLes, then general freight agent, now superintendent, an ex- perienced bridge builder examined the bridge and considered it in good condition. The } competency and thoroughness of the rail-
 road commissioners we all know and ac- knowledge. Mir. Yeomans' experience Is } too well known to need comment. have 3 great confidence, as believe all who know them have, in the ability of Mir, Greer, Keen
 and Jones to examine railroad bridges, and that TO board of railroad directors can be , found in whom the jury would have so much confidence. Not one word of cen , sure falls upon the railroad commissioners, , for whose services the railroad company
 pay the State heavy tax for examining its road and bridges to see that all is safe.
 Supposing for argument sake only that the iron had become weakened by overload ing, how could the railroad drectois have ascertained that fact when the railroad commissioners, bridge master, superinten- dent, &c., did not Neither did the engin. eers from abroad find such a condition to exist, even after the accident. If such men
 could net find any reason for the failure of the bridge what success would upprofes- sional directors have had in ascertainingsuch
 u condltionp am satisfied that the present } board of directors upon assuming the duties of the position on the 23d of May last gave
 instructions to the roadmaster and other
 employees to use the utmost care in the way
 of safety, and to spare no money needed 10
 make the road entirely safe. The report,
 as think, unjustly weakens confidence and
 will deprive the road of business needed 10
 keep the road in the best condition, and will
 add greatly to the agony of those who have lost friends. These considerations have led
 me to take this notice of the report.
 A pumpkin pie "sociap has been held in Willoughby, Ohio. Upon table Tn the