The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-05

HOW NERVOUS He MADE rAE CORONER At THE
LoxG BRANCH INQrEsT.

LONG BRANCH INQrEsT.
Especial dispatch 70 the Philadelphia Timesl
Nxw YoRx, July ais General Grant
here sn said the Coroner at the Long
Branch railroad-disaster inquest to-day,
looking everywhere but IN the direction Of
the ex-President, who arose and walking
to the table whispered loud enough for all
to hear: "If knew anything would
be GLAD 70 testify. ] know nothing
except that / was on the train,
but I don't know whether that was
going fifteen miles an hour or thir-
~" 1.-The only question, General"
said the Coroner, who was visibly nervous,
is, You were In the smoker. Did Il slow
up or notg" "Weli," aid General Grant,
still bending and whisper ne and with lis
hat held by both hands behind bis bsck.
- you can say n 20 that a. well As can. II
mu,t have slowed up a II fell In the river
" The General would like 70 be excused"
said the Coroner. looking It the jury. g
think, n the General Is present." said 4
juror, "for the sake a exOae rating the
jury. MS az well 10 hxve his testimony"
Coroner Hooper held up the Bible and re-
p ated the oath.
General Grant let 90 his hat with one
hand, ard raising the Bible kissed the
cover. Z hen be sat down, showing not
the least impotence. You We're on the
Inflated train" - was" son which
car ?" " was in the smoker, forward Of
those that went off, "Did you feel the
application Of the air-brake 2" ~ couldn't
say" said the pbie-matic witness.
didn't notice; didn't think about it,"
Did the car you were in materially slow
up; did it 20 over easy 2" the Coroner con-
tinued. He was III ~ ease, and his face a.
well u his questions showed IL. Well re-
piled the General, II can hardly answer
10 that; it having run 50 long od the track
it necessarily slowed up considerable. II
was OF the track long enough for = person
10 realize il. There was time enough for
people 10 leave their Eats. | advised the
people not 70 leave their seats. They did
not heed me. believe | was the only one
who did not leave my seat. | was on the
west side. which was the upper side,
when the car struck the water A. il
struck fell from my seat into the water"
Did You make any examination o. the
hridce?"
"N0. As | was waking by the end
where the switches are | heard people re-
mark that there was no chair for the switch
and the rails were not sue ntly spiked.
L
examination. | am not qU Ire whether
would have anOwn anyt about il il
had examined it.
II would like to ask -ler you no.
ticed the ties-whether tn. 20 ,oUnd?"
Il did not observe them, aid the Gene
raj. ." walked D. and fro ar-.-- the bridge
: number Of times. l did ro. make any
observation. | know there We're a good
many u them, and they " ~ pretty close
together. The stenOsrapher. who wrote in
very lei,urelv long hand, read the testi-
mouv % the imprturbabe witness.
e. ANY other statement, Generals' the
Coroner asked. hesitatingly. No, |
General was >i-nin- the reporters
sheet, the Coroner dropped two ,il-
YER quarters on the Bible and pushed
them towards him. General Grant looked
once at each quarter. " rs the law" said
the coroner. Il must give this 70 each
witness" General Grant pocketed the
coins and walked rapidly out 81 the room
without q salute or backward glance. The
verdict given afterwards accused the COM
fanv Of Cro>S and culpabie neglect.
In the course Of the Inquiry il transpired
that switch-plates and spikes 10 put the
" lCu III properly Ht-C III rcNtiyH-A JIG
Lan kier's possession, though the latter
had testified 10 having Intellectually sent 10
headquarters for them. There was scene
between the Coroner and Mr. Applegate,
y no attempted 70 act y counsel for the
company. The Coroner threatened 10 eject
him from the room unless be kept quiet.
and Mr.. Apologize said be dared not do
So. The Coroner stated that persons who
be believed We're agents OF the company
had called on him at night and tried 70 tn
trap him into making arrests. which he was
advised would have been Illegal.