The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-14
THE SWITCH ACCIDENT.
INQUEST UPON MIR. ALECK HALL
Held By Justice HolIsras, OF Henrico-A
Verdict Rendered OF Killed by Gross Care

Held By Justice HolIsras, or Henrico-l
lessness.
Coroner Taylor finding that Mr.. Alex
ander T. Hall, who was Killed by the acci
dent on the Chesapeake and Ohio road
night before last. was a resident OF th'
county OF Henrico. and that he met hi:
death in the limits OF the county, re-
manded the subject OF an inquest to The
Henrico authorities. Yesterday Justice
James Holloran. OF the county, had sum
moned by Constable +. II. Bradley the
following jury OF inquest Messrs. c. A
Robinson. ID. j. McCreen, Philip Keppler.
Stephen +. Mech, Jr., p. II. Norment, and
Frank Mosmiller.
The Jury viewed the body at the resi-.
dence OF the deceased, at the extension oil
Darlington street, Crows Hill, and then
proceeded to the scene OF the accident
after viewing which they went to Mr.. Hol-
loran's place OF business, ut the extreme
end OF Seventeenth street. Here they ex.
amined the following witnesses f. j.
Cline, Thomas Joyce, j. =. Pearce, S. III.
Harris, James Potts, j. B. Bossieux, Mr..
Hudson, and w. b. Berry, all railroad
employees or officers.
Mr.. Harris, nightwatchman, testified that
il was not made bis duty to examine the
switch or to have anything to do with it.
His duty was simply to watch the cars In
the yard: but having heretofore been en-
ploy ed by the company as track-walker,
and therefore being accustomed to exam
inc switches, had always. from habit,
watched the switches on his beat, this one
t1,at hn a
this switch (near Dips spring. twenty min
utes before the accident occurred, and
found it properly locked.
Thomas Joyce, blacksmith and an en-
ploye OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Compa-
ny, who lives close by, heard the noise OF
the collision ard ran to the train and found
the deceased under the dome OF the engine
and in the agOnies Of death, and used every
effort to extricate him. Subsequently
(about twenty minutes later) examined the
switch and found it unlocked, or, In other
words, in such condition that any person
passing by could change 1t to either track.
Mr.. Cline cOrroborated this statement.
Messrs. Potts and Boss.euX, yard-mas-
tiers, said that about an hour after the ac-
cident, when they examined the switch,
they found 1t unlocked and turned on the
main track
Superintendent Hudson illustrated the
working OF the switch. and declared that
the accident could not have happened un-
less some one had tampered with the
switch.
The testimony OF the other witnesses
threw no additional light on the accident.
The jury found the 70 lowing verdict
The undersigned jurors find tine follow
ing verdict: That Alexander Hall, rail-
road engineer, running passenger train
on the Chesapeake and Ohio railway, came
TO his death on the eYening OF June 18th,
| 1884, about twenty minutes past 8 O'Clock,
by reason OF a collision OF The train he Was
running with standing cars on aside-track,
about one-half mile from, Richmond, and
that to the best OF our belief the switch al
the time was unlocked through gross care
lessness OF the said railway company or OF
their employees.
Signed by ali the jurors.
1t seems quite certain that Mr.. Hall put
down the air-brakes before his engine came
in collision. To that prompt act-to his
standing steadfastly to his post OK duty
all the passengers on board the train owe
the preservation OF their lives. They felt
the shock but slightly. and none were in.
jured.
The funeral OF Mr.. Hall will take place
this morning at 81 O'Clock from his resi-
depce, and his remains will be taken to his
parents home at DawsOn's, in Hanover
county.
Deceased leaves widow and three child.
ren-all girIs-the oldest five years old and
the Youngest babe. He had been in the
Nl.A .
commenced as a brakeman and for eight
years had been freight and passenger
engineer. On the 14th OF October last he
took charge OF the engine in which he met
his death.
He was a member OF the Knights OF
Honor, and from that source his family will
receive $1,000.
Mrs. Hall had been in the custom OF eve-
nings OF sitting with her children on the
back porch till she heard her husband
whistle his approach to the city. Night
before last she heard the whistle and told
the girl to put the supper on the table, but
after waiting a good while, and the chill
dren getting sleepy and he not arriving,
she fed the children and sent them to bed,
supposing that Mr.. Hall had to do some
work on his engine at the yard. She her.
self was at the table when lady neigh
Dor came in with the news OF her hus-
bands death. Before the lady bad spoken
Mrs. Hall said: "You needn't tell me a
word-Mr. Hall is dead"
Bishop Peterkin and bride were to have
LETT the city for the North night before last
on the Chesapeake and Ohio train, but the
track being then sti,l blockaded by'reason
of this accident, their train could not leave.
They went to the Exchange Hotel, and left
the city yesterday morning.