Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-17
THE BLAME IS FIXED.
A CorOner's Jury Holds Two Road
Supervisors Responsible for
THE DEATH OF ANDREW CAUGHEY.
Prosecutions of the officers to be Made by
Deceased's Father.
COST OF KEEPING Up VERY BAD ROADS

Coroner Heber Mcdowell yesterday con-
cluded the inquest in the case of Andrew d.
Caughey. The jury found that the man s
death was due to the negligence of Frank
Bryan and William Cast, road supervisors
of Stove township. As a result, John
CaugheY, father of the deceased, will make
the road supervisors answer to charge OF
manslaughter in the courts.
At the inquest. Jonathan Aiken, William
Akin, D. l.. McGeary, A. P. Cleaver and
a number of others of the best known resi-
dents in Stowe and Robinson townships,
testified that the road was in such a condi-
tion as to be constant menace to life. One
of them had seen men on the road fill up the
chuck-holes with mud, into which the wag-
ons sank as soon as one of these places was
struck.
THE COST OF A BAD ROAD.
Frank Bryan, one of the supervisors, said
about 81, 900 of road taxes were collected
each year. He said he had never been noti-
fed that :he road was in bad condition, but he
had not been over it since September.
Another witness said there had been broken
culvert on the road ever since last April and
u,
fix it.
The verdict returned was follows: An
drew ID. Caughey, aged about " years. came TO
his death on Friday December IL, 1880, about Z
O'clock P. M, while driving four-horse wagon
through Stowe township, near Cleaver's farm.
From all the evidence. the jury find said acci.
dent was due to negligence on the part of
Frank Bryan and William Cast, supervisors OF
said township, in not giving proper attention to
said roads, and we recommend that legislation
be procured making it compulsory upon all tax
able persons to keep their roads in repair under
direction of a road commissioner appointed by
the Governor of Pennsylvania"
Immediately after the inquest John Caughey
asked legal advice on the matter, and when
held crIminally responsible. he decided to make
a charge of manslaughter against them. Con-
cerning the matter Mr.. Caushey said:
THE FATHER WELL SATISFIED.
"I am well satisfied with the verdict, and
will have the people who allowed the roads to
be in such a condition pushed as far as l can.
believe they are responsible for the death of
my son. but that is not all. The lives of every
body who travels over these roads are in danger.
W q must make an example of these men,"
Coroner Mcdowell said the verdict was a
good one. Said he: In these days of rapid
transit we must expect violent deaths in the
cities, but now, when almost every month we
are called on to inquire into the death of men
who are killed on the country roads, it is appall-
ing, and it is time that some change be made in
the method of making roads. hope the Legis-
laiure will act in this matter for the present
country roads are dangerous TO life"
The general road laws of the State plainly
set forth the duties of supervisors. and hold
them liable to indictment for negligence.
Where loss Of life has resulted from negligence
the part of the road supervisors the
Supreme Court has decided the supervisors
were criminally responsible. The law also de-
clares it is not necessary to give supervisors
notice to repair read, the condition of the
road itself being considered sufficient notice.