New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
ELECTRIC MANSLAUGHTER.
THE GRAND JURY INDIcTs A MAN FOR IT.
THE LEGISLATURE CALLED UPON TO REGULAr1
THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF TRANSMITTING

THE DEADLY BUT USEFUL FLUID.
The December Grand jury which has spent
large part of its time for two three weeks in
hearing testimony as to the manner in which
the eectric-light wires maintained in tins
city, found one Indictment yesterday and made
a presenment to the cOnrt recommending legis-
lative action on the subject of electric lighting.
The Indictment is against Charles w. Pierce, the
superintendent Of lamps of the Brush Electric
Illuminating Company, and it charges him with
marsaughter in causing the death Of Henry
Harris, the clerk who killed on November 80
in front of No G75 Eighth-ave
Harris and a fellow-clerll were moving show.
case from the street into the store when thd
metal top of the case struck the electric lamp
hanging in front of the store, and at the same
time Harris stepped on an iron grating. cur
rent Of electricity passed through his body, and hs
died almost Immediately.
The Grand Jury entered Judge Giderseeves
courtroom soon after noon, and Foreman Samuel
A. Lewis handed the indictment, presentment and
other documents TO the Judge. bench-warrans
for Perces arrest was Immediately issued ana
placed in the hands of Detective Sergeant Reilly.
An hour later Superintendent Pierce, who had
heard of the finding of the Indictment, entered
the District-AttOrney's Office and announced that
he was ready to give bail. He had not been
arrested by the officer who had the bench-war'
rant and lie desired to be free from the possibility
Of formal arrest.
President William T. Moore. Of the Brush Elec.
tric Illuminating Company accompanied the ac-
cused man. Bail was fixed at 81 900, and Bond
Clerk Penney examined Mr.. Moore, who offered
himself the bondsman. Mr.. Moore said that
he lived at the Murray Hill Hotel and that he
owned property Of the value of $4,000. He was
accepted as the surety and Pierce was discharged.
The accused superintendent has been employed
by the company for long time. He is tall
stout, dark-compexioned man, and dressed
with scrupulous care. He would not talk about
the charge against him He had general super
vision of the lighting apparatus of the company.
The indictment against Pierce contains two
counts. both charging manslaughter The drst
charges in quaint formal language that Charles
W. Pierce did, on November 30, feloniously make
an assault upon one Henry Harris land cur
rent of electricity of great and deadly power
and intensity through and into the body of the
said Henry Harris, did put, place and pass, and
cause and procure to be put. placed ara TO pass
and the said current of electricity through ana
into the body of him, the said Henry Harris, did
wilfully and felOniOusly keep and sontinue and
cause and procure to be kept ana continued Tor
q space Of time to wit: for the space OF i've
seconds: thereby giving unto him, the said Henry
Harris. with the electric current aforesaid, a
mortal electric shock of which mortal electric
died.
The second count sets forth at length the sys::
TEN used 1y the Brush Company. lie central
station is at No. 210 Ehzabeth-st., and among the
circuits was the Commercial Circuit Number
even Among the lamps on that circuit was
the lamp in front OF No 6I5 Elghth-aNe Inc
duty of Pierce to place the lamp so that cltl-
zcns could pass and labor on the street without
danger of losing their lives to keep the lamp at
a sufficient height TO secure the safety OF passers-
by. and TO insulate it and keep it insulated SO
that under no circumstances could those at work
in the street be placed in danger OF losing their
lives from the lamp. The neglect OF the defend:
ant to perform his duties, 1T is charged, caused
the death OF Harris.
The Grand Jurys presentment in reference to
the electric light wires was not read In open court,
but was handed 10 Judge Gildersleeve and filed
with the clerk of the court. In it the Grand
Jurors say III part as follows:
The Grand Jury has devoted a great deal OF time
the invest CATION various systems Of electrical
ton and the distribution and transmission OF electrical
current. and power purposes by Of aerial
and underground wires through the public streets OF the
city in operation, for the purpose OF ascertainns
whether systems being operated with due and
proper regard for the lives safety OF the public and
particularly under what circumstances such systems
De safely operated For this purpose the Grand Jury
considered great OF testimony, given by wit
casualties occurring from electric currents, and
by scientific
There appears a great diversity OF opinion among
qualified testify every branch OF the in
quiry and detail connected with the subject
satisfactory conclusion
The Grand Jury convinced that the business Of
gen,ration distribution Of electrical currents Is
which should De investigated by the Legislature for
purpose ascerang the character OF Legislative
enactment required provide means for carrying on
the without danger 10 the public.
We therefore recommend that the LEGISLATURE shall
without delay appoint u committee OF its members to
inquire into the subject and report plan Of legs
prevent further danger TO the public
from electrical apparatus.
The names of the witnesses examined by the
Grand Jury in the proceedings which ended in
the finding of the indictment against Superintend-
ent Pierce are Mamie Dahl, Deputy Coroner
Jenkins, John Smith, r. Sharpe Roundsman
Thomas Murphy Kate Rechle Officers Cary and
Kuthman. of the Second Precinct: Schuyler s.
Wheeler, Commissioner ID. l.. Gibbens, George H.
Benjamin. Henry II. Alexander, DIR. Otto A. Noses
Ralph w. Pope, Policeman John W. Walters,
+. ]. Norris Bernard Callen Lawrence H. Hughes,
Drs William c. Campbell, T. r. Killelea Henry
Baum William T. Moore, Gaylord McYall John
Schuman and Thomas A. Edison.
a WIRE FULLER BADLY BURNED AND SHOCKED.
The wOrkmen engaged in the upon the over
head electric light received another lesson YES
terday regarding the danger of their task. Cornelius
Grinnan, a laborer, employed in the gang that was
from a wire of the Manhattan Company and besides
having the palm Of his hand badly burned, he was
incapacitated Tor work for some time The wire from
which he received the current the that sup
piled Macy'S with incandescent lights and strung
on the elevated railroad structure at Foureenthst
II had already been loosened by the lnemen, ana