Connecticut western news., 1878-03-21
The Tarlffville Disaster.

MINORITY REPORT FROM THE JURY OF INQUEST
 The four members of the Tariffville jury of inquest who declined to sign the report of the majority, have submitted the follow ing opinion to Justice Woodford:
 STATE OF CONNECTICUT, COUNTY HARTFORD, ss. S1MsBURY, Msrch 6, 1878.
 To Frederick G. ,Woodford, Justice of the
 Peace in and for said County of Hart
 ford;
 We, the subscribers, duly impanelled and sworn,to inquire into the cause and manner of the death of George F. Hatch, do upon our osths declare that said George F. Hatch came to his death from scalds and injuries caused by the falling of the bridge on the Connecticut Western railroad over the Far mington river near Tariffville, on the night of January l5, 1878. And we do further report that we have had the testimony of Q large number of witnesses consisting of ex- pert mechanical engineers, bridge builders. railroad men, passengers upon the ill-fated tram, the railroad commissioners, and many other persons, and from sad testimony have come to the following conclusions:
 l. That in our opinion from the evidence, the bridge at the time ot the disaster was in safe condition for the passage of trains whether consisting of one or more engines. And we further believe that the same was constructed upon thorough scientific princi pies. and we do not believe that it had be- come deteriorsted by exposure to the ele- ments sufficient to weaken the same to 8 point of danger. We also believe by the numerous tests of the iron that it is of good quality, and that the same had not been | overstrained sufficient to cause any weaken ing or danger thereby
 II. We have had sufficient evidence to believe that there was 8 derallment of some portion of the train, and if SO, by falling | upon the timbers of the bridge, or coming l in contact with the sfde or the same, would Tn either case, in our opinion, cause se-
 were shock, sufficient to cause the structure
 to fall.
 III. We therefore believe that the respon
 sibiity of the terrible accident does not res upon the president or superintendent of thu Connecticut Western railroad, and that I appears in evidence that the directors ant
 managers had used due diligence for tho safety of the travelling public by directing their employees to take every precaution tc
 keep the road in as perfect condition as pos sible, and had, from time to time, called up on the railroad commissioners to thorough
 ly examine the bridges and all portions oi tuO AOAus to UC pOpLtAVCIy cutO lu0s VVCAy thing pertaining to the read was in @ per fectly safe condition.
 w. In conclusion, we would say that we do not consider ourselves competent to ad-
 vlse any new departure or mode of con structing or management of railways, but
 we would urge upon those having charge of | them to make every effort to prevent rep .etition of such horrible catastrophe. We earnestly appeal to the railroad commission
 CTS to make their examinations thorough
 and if they allow any railroad company ir | the state to run passenger trains over any structure, unless known to them to be in ,
 perfectly safe condition. they ought to be ! held responsible for the results which fol low such culpable neglect.
 Dated at SimsbuIy, this 9th day of March A. D. 1878. N. w. HoLCoMB, c. z. CASE, JAY BARNARD, k. H. ENo.