New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-21
MOTHER ELECTRIC MURDER.
KILLING OF 4 MAN IN NEWBUhG.
A POORLY INSULATED ELECTRIC LIGHT WINE
IN CONTACT WITH AN IRON POST ihE
CAUsE-ANOTHER MAN AND
HORSE SHOCKED.

Newburg " Y. Jan. oO.-At o'clock this morning
man stopped his horse in front Of F. W. PARSONS
shoe store, in Water-st Before he got out OF us
carriage the horse touched an iron awning post WIN
his nose and fell into the gutter like log. IhoiI''
Dawson ran the horse, but sooner did ne place
his hands on the animal than he fell dead IhOH!d'
Seltz who Dawson fall, hastened to his assistance
and took hold Of him to lift him to his feet, and
received a terrible shock falling to the ground as
if dead. An arc electric light wire had sagSed ana
Law upon an iron rod extending from the awning posi-
to the building and the full force Of the electric
current was passing down the iron post into tho
ground The Insulating material on the wiro hai
become thoroughly saturated by The rain.
The body Of Dawson was carried into store U
await the action of the coroner. Mr. seltz was onl
stunned and soon got up, brushed his clothes ana
walked away. The horse was not killed
Dawson was q laborer and for number OF years
had been gravedigger in ST. Georges Cemetery, beng
well and favorably known. lie was a large ana
powerful man, weighing over 200 pounds lie leaves
a wife and children.
There IS great excitement and Indignation in this
city over hi, death The electric light wires, even
when taut are only few inches above the IRON
awning frames in front of buildings.
II seems that Dawson. in assisting the horse TOOK
hold of the hcadgear and at once fell forward MS
head striking against the iron awning post All eA-
animation of the body showed that the deadly current
rested against the post. The neck was blistered th9
hair sinrcd and the ear badly burned. His face boo
no evidence that he had suffered any PAIN lho
veins all over hi, body were dietended anu rd'9cu
and slightly di,colorcd. When seItz saw Dawson iaII
he ran to his ass tancc and got between the man anu
the horse to try LIT the former up Instantly nc
ras pro,tratcd al full length in the gutter. man
ran 70 the electric light cOmpanys station ana ha'.
tho current shut of Dawson was dead when picked
nm and va, probably instantly killed. oeHZ was
picled up unconscious and when he revived trembled
like leaf for several minutes.
The Jourual7 has started a relief fund for Daw-
SON, family remarkable feature OF the Tragedy
/, the escape from injury Of the man VINO ueu 'hc
horse to the post lie was coachman for Warren
Dcano Of Balmvlc. By some good fortune nc u'''
not touch the post with his hands. 1t Is possible
boyrever that the electric wires were not III contact
with the po,t at the moment he was tying the horse
The corOner's inquest was begun thls aeIIiooil, a.
DIR Iohn r Howell testified that lie examiner ule uouh
shortly after the accident FROM Nm ma Se'th MAS
and from other fact, lie believed that ucdIi 80
caused by current Of electricity passing through 'ie
Robert seltz testified and told of his part in the occur
renee He is about forty years OLD ana proGdOIy
and powerful man lie has an ugly burn on me
right side OF his neck which, ne says he does not
know how he received. ~,
william + ohcehan. superintendent Of the New
burg Electric Light Works, testified that wel ne ar
rived at the scene Of the accident ne found tat one
Of the electric light wires was in contact Win an pn
brace extending HorlZohtAllN IRON lIt
the building AZ the point Of contact he found mat
insulation of the wire had been ruptured, but else
where the wl.r properly insulated. go
What caused the wire TO come into contact WIN
the iron brace i' was asked.
The Oulv explanation | can give he said, " Is
that something must have fallen on the wire from
above and forced the wire against the brace and
broken the insulatOn.7 lie also said that ordinarily
the current passing through the wire would not have
been sufficient 10 The death o any person coming
In contact with the iron post.
Isn't 10 fact that these arc electric light wires are
a constant danger 10 human life - was asked.
" No. ~ir. No than railroad track upon
which. If person stand, long enough, he Is liable
TO get hurt by a railroad train
The inquest was then adjourned until Friday