New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-21
u1crepTOTS INDICTMENT.

The Indictment found against three men at
TROY for mi>placng switch Oh the New I ork
Central Railroad leaves the wrccking OF the
second section of the Montreal express on the
night of September in most unfortunate
condition of mystery There is an cXtraordl'
nary lack OF correspondence between the de-
tailed statements reported at the time OF 'ni'
disaster and the conclusions of the Grand Jury.
The newspaper descriptions OF the occurrence
and the preparations deliberately ana method-
ically made to accomplish devilish purpose
were in great part derived from ana III al!
essential particulars confirmed ny the railroad
officials. The condition of the truck alter the
disaster was said to reveal clearly the means
cmployed to wreck the train. NO DOUBT existed
in the mind of any one. 30 far as the puo"c
WINS informed. that scores Of passengers were
miraculously saved from destruction which had
been carefully and sllilfully planned.
The railroad company promptly offered re-
ward of $1,000 for the arrest ana cohVlctloh
of tho unknown scoundrcls who had l;iid me
atrocious plot. Day after day reports OF inc
stens taken TO apprchcnd the wrcckers were put
in circulation. apparently on the highest author-
,y and the public was encouraged to otlleFe
that tho detectives wero on their trail. ~
lopoth 70 the great satisfaction and rc.icf 81
ovorv respcct,ble citizen. it was announced that
several arrests had been made on strong evil
dencc of guilt. and finally the details OF thr"o
confessions were given to the pres ana pun
lshed with substantial identity IN all PARIS Oh
the country. The indictment OF three mch ior
the cxecrahIe crime Of train-wrcckinS "hlch
Nv 4 miracle fell short Of wholesale MURDER WIS
confidently predicted and expected Ana now
IN tbc establishment Of everybody. excepting
pcrhaps the railroad officials and the detectives.
an indictment j., found for taml'"ring with a
switch far removed from tho point whore me
uop,roal oyp,c,s was ditchcd-a foul act to he
sure I'm, one which did not calisc disaster. and
Of which the public hal never heard before.
This extraordinary ISSUE Of proceedings IN
which the whole public has been profoundly
interested suggests many dlSa.rcahle ren"'-
lions The detectives may have led themselves
into a blind alley; they IHav have grossly ~"
,rived the COMPANY as - the eviGenc" IN their
no..c>,ion: the railroad officials. for soma IN
,crurahlc reason which seems to them sufficient.
NAV have deliberately deceived tho public;
the Grand Jury may have found the cvid"nr"
nrc>rnt"d To- them deficient. or they ma! have
refused 10 give II ll' W'lSi' WIN ~ ''''''
lcur, tn it, The whole business l. deep inHS-
,"ry and keen disappointment. II AL th2'
the men now undor Indictment did was To turn
n switch. without actual injury resulting, where
aro the men who sjiccccdcd in wlcchinc IN"
c,prc>>r /, i, at present Impossible I" crch'
the surcr>tinn that the Montreal train I"it thr
traI; wiiho,l. direct human agency, inaSin'''h
a. the railroad officials. Immediately aft"r the
:, idrn.. dc>,tiLrd in detail III" distractions
which they themselves bad found between tn"
rails. "" are restricted to a ch"lr" between
two alternatives, neither Of which i arr""ahlr
to coniomplair. Either III" Grand jury haN"
.hamcfuIlv failed to do their duty. or c!s" the
.ucr.>>tul w.c,kcrs r"lnrin unknown. II tho""
who In>>.>> all lie facts hcli"v" that Ia" hrs,
h\irlh".i. i, correct it l. thtlr dnit = present
~. evidence 10 another Grand Jury "i't ti'
a>tr,>>ihlo delay II they know tat IA" sec
and hyuo,hc,, i, the right one, the, "u,hr Il"
,,,f.>< the truth and r"inuh" th'ir efforts ="
l,y h.!L of III, c"'iiy. Ev',N >1'h cr'la vhI'h
..c,urs runl>hiu"r' i, 4 p"N'ciGl luc"ni!i" L"
imitation. N.thrr the New York Central non
;hc community can afford :" aha!'''n ~" >'afch
which th,s far appears TO he dcpl"rahlc iaIl-