New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-06
BRUSH COMPANY BLAMED.
RESPONSIBLE FOR MURRAYs DEATH.
CORONER LEWIS JURY BRINGS IN swEgprxo
yERDicT-ExPEgrs TESTIFY.

CORONER LEWIS JURY BRINGS IN A swEEpIvn
vERDicr-ExPEgrs TESTIFY.
Coroner Levy and his jury yesterday finished
the inquest in the case OF Thomas Murray, thu
lineman, which involved an inquiry into the GEN.
oral condition of the electric light wires through
out the city and the best means to render them
harmless. The jury brought in verdict holding
the Brush Company responsible for slurray's death
censuring the electric light companies generally
for not keeping their wires in better condition.
and recommending that the attention Of the Dis
trict Attorney be called to the illegal maintenance
Of wires above ground.
William III. Johnston, Of Philadelphia who said
that he was engaged in the underground electric
business" in that city, was the first witness lie
regarded the condition of the wires here as most
hazardous both to life and property There IL
no insulation at allD he said; 1t Is simply paint
and cotton braid designed more for the purpose
OF keeping out water than anything else. If aLy.l
body were to take hold Of the negative and positive
ends of such wires ON wet day there would prob,
ably be another case for the Coroner
Professor George w. Plympton, an electrical ex.S
merit from Brooklyn and president of the Subway
Commission there, next took the stand. He
believed that the overhead arc wires were dsn-
gerous because they were unsufiicently insulated
His remedy would be to provide better projections
for the wires in the air. and then get them under
ground as soon as il was certain that they could
be maintained under ground; Leonard +. Beck
with chief en- gineer of the Consolidated ELECTRIC
Subway Company, and Colonel H. ,. hearny, en-
cineer of the Board OF Electrical Control, though;
that the underground wires were much safey
than overhead wires. Commissioner GIbbens, "a
the Board of Electrical Control was recalled, bus
said nothing pew. Coroner Levy then charged
the jury. 20, Ill. -,
The Jurors were out two and a half hours, and
brought in the following verdict
We find that the death OF Thomas Murray was caused
nv an electric shock received from improperly insulated
electric light wire operated and controlled by the BrusA
Electric Illuminating Company while in the discharge Of
his duty as lnean In the employ OF said company
the 18th day OF May, 1883 at NO. Ol0 Broad"ay' We
also find from the evidence said wire not u
had not been in use for about four months prior May H.
and was permitted to remain live wire in dangerous
condition and position
We therefore find the Brush Electric Illuminating Com
pany responsible Cor death Of Thomas Murray We
strongly condemn the parslmon;oas spirit OF the eecis
lighting companies in maintaining constant menace
life and property keeping their wires In repair VITA
proper methods Of insulation.
We would recommend thst the Coroner Immediately cali
the attention Of tho 70 the Illegal maa
tenance Of wires above ground 10 this city.
The delay in getting at verdict was due to
the fact that some of the lurymen wanted TO
insert clause censuring the Mayor for nct
ordering the Commissioner OF Pubic
Works TO put the wires under ground otnes
members of the jury wanted 10 censure the Beard
of Electrical Control for authorizing the erection
of new overhead wires while fully aware OF THEN
matelv droppcd both clauses, but there was no
diversity of opinion as 10 the culpabllity oil the
Brush Company nor the general negligence OF
other companies.