The New York herald., 1879-01-01

Burns jumped into room. "Furniss fell back on
me and Palmer ran away"
THE VERDICT.
Deputy Coroner Miller described the nature of the
wounds which caused the death OF deceased, after
which the given to the jury. Their verdict
that Asa Ii. Furniss came to his death by pistol
shot wounds at the hands of William L. Palmer, Jr.
at the Metropolitan Hotel, December 2S. 1878.
Captain Brogan. being furnished with commit
ment was instructed by the Coroner to take charge
of the prisoner as soon as he sufficiently
lescent to warrant his removal from Bellevue Hospi-
tai to the City Prison.
AT the meeting of Police Commissioners yesterday
the following resolution was adopted
Resolved That the President be authorised TO transmit
Of ss Ros Relief Fnna ssosins
mated TO her by the said trustees In appreciation OF the
G OF the % ws' s ass s ws Mssn IN
ri % o, on ms soy u vs sesnbs ~ 7s ~ Tue and u,
the letter be read TO the from the desk in each station
THE HARLEM BRIDGE MAN TRAP-FIxING THE
REsPoNsIBnLTY-THE GATE TENDER COM
suTTED FOR THE ACTION OF THE GRAND JURY.
An inquest was held yesterday by Coroner Croker.
at the Twelfth Precinct Station House, into the cir
cumstances attending the death Of Thomas E. Steven
son. who was drowned in the Harlem River on Christ
mas Eve. The particulars of the case. already pub
hshed in the HERALD in brief peculiarly sad. and
the needless sacrifice Of human life attended by
many circumstances of official neglect that the most
searching inquisition was deemed necessary, and a
careful effort made to fix all blame in the proper
quarter.
INTO THE RIVER.
Mr.. Stevenson q salesman in the employ of A.
T. Stewart & Co. for hve years. and was resi-
dent Of Mott Haven. living with his family in 141st
street, near Willis avenue. On Christmas Eve, shortly
after o'clock, he crossing the Third
bridge his way home having under
his arm several packages containing Christ
mas presents for his children. As he ap-
preached the centre Of the bridge the signal
given for the opening Of the draw. and the gates
erected for safety closed. He stood waiting
until the gates opened again. and then. suppos
ing the way was clear, he stepped forward. The
gates however, had been opened too soon, the draw
not being closed. and he stepped off the bridge and
fell into the water He seen to fall by number
of persons, one Of whom caught at him as he went
down. touching him. bat failing to obtain a hold.
The alarm was given at and several went
to the rescue in boat soon as policeman could
break into nearest boahouse, but before the boat
reached the drowning man. his cries for help had
ceased aud when he drawn from the water he
was insensible. Medical aid was summoned at once,
but he died without recovering consciousness.
A PERFECT MANrRAp.
This melancholy circumstance not only aroused "a
general sympathy on the part of Mr.. Stevenson's
neighbors. but the most outspoken Indignation on
the part Of all the residents Of the neghborhood. The
Harlem Bridge has been known for years q
trap of the most dangerous description fatal acci
dents having occurred repeatedly and the lack Of pro-
lection to human life has been denounced by the
HERALD again and again. In September. 1877. James
Redmond resident Of Harlem. stood at the end of
the bridge when the draw was open, and caught
hnfy
were both cut on and he died III
short time, after. 50 much indignation
the bridge that time that the Department OF Parks
under whose charge it is forced by the pressure
Of public opinion to place at either end OF the draw
gate similar to those use on the ferryboats, to
keep pedestrians from dangerous proximity to the
edge OF the bridge mns was supposed SEQ as the time
properly attended there would be little danger to the
public. In the case of Mr. Stevenson. however, the
very presence Of the gates gave him the natural i'm
precision that all danger guarded against, and
when the way was thrown open he stepped forward
such an accident. it is only just to say had been
foreseen by careful observers who noticed that only
two men were employed by the Park Department to
attend the gates and to the water power machinery
at the centre Of the draw by which, in part the
draw is moved. As it is manifestly impossible for
two be in three places at once both of
the gates always unattended during part of the
time when the draw OPEN As the city has
of Mr. Redmond and the lack of proper service rem
dered the accident of Christmas Eve likely to occur
ut any time it is difficult to understand on what
principle OF economy the department proceeded
GATES OPENED TOO SOON.
At the inquest yesterday eleven witnesses
amined, ahd all the facts in the case were plainly
brought out Frederick Kramer Q laborer, was first
sworn and testified that he knew the deceased and
that he him OH the bridge at the time of the
cident there was, as Is usual at that hour In the
evening" quite crowd on the bridge. and consider
able number of persons waiting tor the draw to
close as is commonly the case there was q rush on
the part Of the crowd to get when the gates
opened on this occasion the gates were thrown
Within five or six feet of being Closed witness saw
the deceased start forward and fall overheard.
John A. Ellis, resident OF Mott Haven. testified
that he also saw the gates opened before the draw
was closed. He explained that four men hired
to attend to the bridge two being engineers in charge
Of the small steam engine vt the top of the draw
and two being gate tenders.
OFFICER THE STAND.
Officer John Kavanagh. OF the Twelfth precinct.
testified that he post from l2jth street and
Third avenue to and across the Harlem Bridge; he
the carriage way of the bridge when the acci
dent happened and, as he had frequently done be-
FORE he stood by the gate opened one-half of
the draw was closing; he had never been asked
or forbidden to do this. and did not con,
to the gates, but did SO accommodation to the
public and to the bridge attendants. When he
that man had fallen overheard he to the end of
the bridge at the foot OF 130th street and broke open
boathouse, and. taking boat. went with two other
men TO the rescue They saw Stevensons head in the
water and rst took 1t to be his hat. But finding
1t to be the man himself they dragged him out aud
took him TO restaurant near by. where two
ply sicans attended him.
on a long and careful examination it was shown
that Kavanagh opened only onehalf OF the gate and
that the half which he opened that across the
western side of the bridge. Mr.. Stevenson had
walked off from the eastern side, and the eastern
gate, Kavanagh said, opened by the gate tender
Daniel DAILY.
DuYs TESTIMONY.
Daily was the next witness and explained his duties
clearly. He has been bridge tender nearly two
years when q tug or other boat coming
he said which 1t Is necessary TO open the draw
we blow a whistle. similar to those carried by police
rla ,leutv
and son, who Is the other bridget lender go to the
two gates; he generally goes to the the Mott
Haven side and to the the Harlem SIDE; then
turn the water power which is used as an as
sistance TO the steam engine in turning the draw;
OF the gates one of them ~ always left
without our attendance while are doing this each
gate is fastened by. small clamp tine top which
can be removed by any one who is there; after
have shut of the water we 90 again to the gates
and open them: am always careful not to open the
gates until the draw is closed; the occasion W hen
Mr.. Stevenson was drowned. went to the Harlem