The sun., 1889-12-28
ELECTRICITY HIS WEAPON.
RRUsH SUPERINTENDENT PIERCE IN
DICTED FOR MANUFACTURER

For KiIliag Clerk Harris on Eighth Avenue
-The Grand Jury Presents the Electric
LiRhtinG Busineus TO the LegIsiature TO
Devise Safeguards for che Public.
The Grand Jury found yesterday the first
indictment ever found IN this county for caus-
ing death by electricity. Itis.aRainst Charles W.
Pierce. superintendent OF the Brush Electric
Light Company. and charges him with man
slaughter In causing the doath by electricity Of
Henry Harris, clerk in Bernard Caen's dry
goods store at CTS Eighth avenue, on the
evening Of Nov. 80. Harris and Lawrence II.
Hughes. another clerk. were carrying show
case from the sidewalk into the store. when
Harris was killed by the current from the low
hanging electric lamp In front OF tho atoro.
which lamp the top OF the showcase had
touched.
The indictment contains two counts. The
lrst count charges that Pierce feloniously
made IN assault on Henry Harris, and cur
rent OF electricity OF great and deadly power
and Intensity through and into tho body OF the
said Henry Harris did put, place, and pass,
and caused and procured to be put, placed.
and passed. and the said current OF electricity
into the body OF him. the said Henry Harris,
did wilfully and ieloniously keep and continue,
and caused and procured to lie kent and con-
:-nued for spnco OF time. 10 wit, for the space
OF flve seconds. thereby causing With the cleo
trio current aforesaid. a mortal electric shock.
OF which said mortal electric shock the said
Henry Harris then and there died"
Tho second count describes the manner In
which the Brush Electric Light Company op-
ernted its currents. md says That tho company
had central station at 2l0 Elizabeth street.
and maintained number OF circuits. One OF
these circuits was called Commercial Circuit
No. T." and on that circuit, among other lights.
was the light in front OF Callen's store. Then
the second count OF the indictment charges
that Pierce was the superintendent OF lights of
the company. and 1t was his duty to place the
lights 80 that citizens could pass through the
streets or work IN the streets without danger
Insulated 20 lint the electric current supply
ing the lamps could under no circumstaiLces
This Pierce failed to do. and by his criminal
negligence and neglect TO perform his duty
for Superintendent PierGe,s arrest. and gave
II to Detective Sergeant Reilly to serve Alter
the Sergeant had lett the court building, Su-
perntendent Pierce tered lhe District, At
iHmo liam 4. S Moore SSP Of The Brush Electric Light
Company, and surrendered himself PIeSi-
dent MoSH err YhS n,. gave Sed his surs s s Re
gave $2.500 bail for Superintendent Pierce, and
Pierce was released;
also handed up to Judge Gildersleeye q pre-
sentiment. the result OF the Grand Jurys in
Electricity, and the dangers OF electric lighting
in the streets. The ,presentment Ia as follows:
" The Grand Jury has devoted great deal OF
time to the investigation OF the various sys-
TENS OF electrical generators, and the distriRu-
tion and transmission OF electrical currents for
light and power purposes by means OF aerial
and underground wires through the public
hs are
operated with due and proper regard for the
lives and safety OF the public and particularly
under what circumstances such systems can
be safely operated.
For this purpose the Grand Jury has con-
Witnesses to casualties occurring from cleo
tric currents and by scientific men. There
amens tSoss Il Greas 70 testify
every branch Of the inquiry and as to
has has BEEN BEEN difficult for the Grand Jury to
come to satisfactory % conclusion on9 sion Ihe M
mony o n
Sf the 81 S Il bs yS Sl
rious electric light companies. There was q
diversity Of opinion among them as to the dan
ger to te and property and n9ttWiths;tand1ing n;
on. ne and properly wtlI be daily men aeedsa
~" II Is manifest that legislative action should
S e
1t was recently shown to the Supreme Court Of
hs haa been Da to
condition dangerous TO hHman hs1 IL ife E. SO that
sd
sponsible for this condition OF things were
conducting o husinesS by means OF an APP
paratus and O force WHICH. unless properly
controlled. subjected the Sitizens oil this city to
held the facts constituted q public nuisance,
and directed that an Injunction previously OBJ
tanned. restraining the authorities from inter;
set aside. on the ground that not only the pub
lie authorities but any citizen would be lusti-
fled in abolishinR tho nuisance. or this de-
csion the Grand Jury heartily approve. lnas-
removing the dangerous wires and apparatus
condemned by the court the Grand Jury have
not deemed 1t necessary to AXE action IN ref;
erence thereto: the result to be accomplished
wit. the abatement Of the ,nulsance..having
already been brought about by the decision OF
the Supreme Court.
THE GRAND Jury is convinced that the bust
trlcnl currents is one which. should be investi:
gated by the Legislature for the purpose OF
asc0rtaininR the character OF legislative
enactment required to provtdesa means Tor
carrying on the same without danger to the
I'VE therefore recommend that the Legisla-
ture shall without delay appoint n committee
OF Its members 10 inquire into the SUBJECT ana
prevent further danger TO the public from eleo-
trica apparatus"
Judge Gilderseeve said that the presentment
would be brought to the attsntiSn Of the proper
Jury for their Jealous services In December
Only 46,724 feet OF electric light wire were
'N,fS ON Park ae''H roW' from pell street to City
Hall. inspector Schwartz removed % poles
and lO.73G leet oil wire.
MI. GOWEN NOT IN DEBT 10 MIR. sULLT.