The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-24
A STRANGE VERDICT.
FATAL ACCIDENT CAUSED BY MANS INTEE-
FERENCE WITH CAR DRIVER.

FATAL ACCIDENT CAUSED BY MANS INTEE-
FERENCE WITH CAR DRIVER.
ANranger verdict than is usually rendered. even by
q Coroncr's jury, was brought In yesterday IN the
case oil John Dobbins, two years and six months old.
OF No. 81 Frankfort street. who was run over aud
killed Dy Second avenue car last Thursday. Tue
case W brought up Tor hearing on Monday, but at
tho request OF the chids father, who said that two
Important witnesses were absent Coroner ElIinger
granted an Adjournment until yesterday. One oil
these voluntary witnesses OTTO +. Ehiers. OF
Brooklyn. whom the jury censured Tor being Access
sorry 70 the child's death.
Elias I. Hatcn, oil Brooklyn, testified that on the
morning oil the accident no was seated In a Second
avenue car, looking out the front window, When, as
the cur approached Madison street, he saw a child
start from the sidewalk toward the middle OF
the road, where ne Was Knocked down by the norses
and run over by the car; there the
front platform but the driver ana tho brakes being
put down the stopped almost instantly; the car
was running very slowly on an up grade; alter the
accident II had to be lifted from The dead body.
William Churchill, No. Al Oliver street, witnessed
the acc dent IRON his own door; the along
rapidly; tho child was alone and the oriver not
happen notice IL; II he had done he might easily
have stopped the car In Time
gHLERs' ACCOUNT.
Otto Ehlers, OF No ISL Hudson avenue, Brooklyn,
Standing the front platform toe the
accident aud nrst noticed the hltIe boy lew feet
In front oi the horses IN the middle Of tho TRACK
the act Of crosstns the driver was looking TO tho
LETT and had his rcns his right hs7d thus not hav
ing compiets control OF HIS horses or brake, wit
ness drew ms attention 10 the child loo late stop
lhe the boy mad crossed the track IRON right
left aud had nearly cleared the left hand rate whom
he struck by the norses logs, knocked aown and
run over; thu car was tong last, nnd the child
could have been saved II the driver had looked
strni4 ht before i'm mad had his right hand
brake; witness was the only passenger the
Platform.
Charles wengcnr atb, of Brooklyn, VINO was sitting
on the second seat the riRnt sue Of the
10 the driver heard Ehlers draw the drivers attsn-
lion to somethl Dg anu call to MIN TO stop the car.
Tus DRIVERS VERSION.
Thomas Maher, tns driver, tsstihed that at tho
child knocked down by n the horse; that wac tho
FIRST he saw OF tue enid lie rushed Tor the brakes.
when gentleman VINO was standing ON the platform
NJ his rIght grabbed hold Of the wiinsss and
prevented HIM putting on tue brakes; witness
shook him on aud went Tor the brakes
second time when no was again srsbbed by The
aud held Ny the gentleman; he .snook HIM on again
and put The brakes on third timc; witness's rlgut
hand the brake and the roma his
hand; ne nad been drivng Tor tue COMPANY since
Nay last; previously ne nad been n switchmsn.
THIS ended the testimony. rho Jury returned with
the following veraict:-"fbat the SAID chld came to
his death by injuries accidentally received By psng
run over Dy No % OF Tho second Avsnus RaiI-
road Company the 1sth OF jay, 1878, At
ner Of Madison aud 0nv,r streets, anu We iurtner
na that The accident due TO the interference OF
Otto n. Killers Win the driver"