New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.
The RAILROAD TO BLAME
liiH NEW-foRK AND LONG BRANCH ROAD
RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING FOUR
PEOPLE.
THERE WAS NO FLAGMAy AT LITTLE SILVER To
WARN THE DRIVING PARTY OF AP.

lBf TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEJ
Ked Bank, n. j., July ll.-At tho inquest
held here to-day to determine who was to blame
for the killing of Mrs. Rachel Ward, Joseph
A. Heating, her son-n-aw, Elsie Keating, his
two-year-old daughter, and Katharine LawlorI
her nurse, at the railroad crossing near Little
Silver last Friday, the coroner's Jury rendered
verdict censuring the New-York and Long
Branch Railroad Company for not having q
hagman or gates at the crossing as those who
wished to cross the tracks there did not hava
good view Of approaching trains
The inquest was held in the Globe Hotel Gen.
eral Charles Haight, the Prosecutor Of the Pleas
for Monmouth County, was present in behalf Of
the State. William +. MacRae of the law firm OF
Kelly & MacRae, of No. 26l Broadway. watched
the proceedings on behalf Of the families Of those
so cruelty slain. Ex-senator Applcgate OF coun-
sci of the New-fork and Long Branch Railroad
Company, was also an interested spectator Law.
yer Edmund Wilson, Of Red Bank acted as the
corOner's clerk. He was also sworn in as a
deputy coroner, and he put the questions to the
witnesses. The stuGy little room was crowded
with men during the hearing. j. Frank Patter-
son, chief of police, had selected for the jury
Theodore Sickles foreman Jacob DegenringI
William A. Van Schaick, William A. Cole William
A. Truax, John B. Bergen, Charles b. Parsons,
William j. Sutton, William Mulchow, Samuel Sab,
bath, j. V. Morford and Simon Miller, all business
men here.
DR.. Walter s. Whitmore, Of Red Bank, was tha
first witness He was summoned TO the scene of
the accident, and saw the four bodies lying in ths
station. He described how each body was mutt.
lated. G. Schenck ConOver testified that he lived
within 90 yards Of the fatal crossing. His wfe
told him that Mrs. Ward and her family had been
killed by q train, and he ran over to the scene Of
the accident. There were no gates at the cross
ing, and no tagman. In his opinion the crossing
was dangerous one, as those who wished to ride
walk the tracks were unable TO see ap,
preaching trains.
George Clickner, the engineer Of the express
train which struck Mrs. Wards carriage, was
next sworn. His train was running at the rate
Of forty miles an hour when it struck the car.
riage. The vehicle was driven upon the tracle
from the left side. His fireman shouted
:" Great heavens!" and then Clickner saw
Mrs. Wards horse thrown up into the
air by the pilot of his locomotive He was
looking straight ahead when the accident oc4
CURED, but did not see the carriage driven upon
the tracks. He had blown the whistle for the
crossing and his fireman had rung the locomo+
tive bell. John A. Harrington, his fireman, was
the next witness. Harrington saw the carriage
driven upon the track directly in front OF his
locomotive. The pilot struck it, and knocking
it to pieces hurled the four occupants down
the track. The carriage was driven upon the
tracks Immediately behind the north-bound
train, which late.
Francis Green, colored boy employed in the
stables at Monmouth Park, saw the accident aa
he was walking toward the crossing. The car
riage waited until the north-bOund train had
passed. and was then driven upon the rails In 'front.'
of the express train. Green saw Mr.. keating
grab the reinS out Of the hands Of the woman
who was driving when he the express train
rushing down upon the carriage and urge the
horse forward When Green the LOCOMOTIVES
knock the carriage into small pieces and hurl
The four persons down the track he went home as
he did not wish TO see the mangled bodies Will.
lam A. Bowling, the assistant station agent az
Little Silver, testified that there were no cars
standing on Side track, so as to cut of view
of approaching trains. ,
W. Tabor Parker, who lives half mile from
the crossing, testified that the crossing was an
exceedingly dangerous one as it was left un.
guarded train from the south would cut ON
all view Of O train bound from New-fork Ihd
crossing was so dangerous that Mr.. Parker went
out of his way to avoid driving over IT,
John f. Provost, the engineer OF the norths
hound train. testified that he saw Mr.. keatlna
take the reinS from the woman who was driving
and pull his horse back so as to allow Provosts
Kpatng in warning of the approach of the southi
bound express and pointed to it. His tram waa
one minute behind time.
The Jury deliberated about an hour before II
rendered the verdict