Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-09
KILLED BY A CABLE CAR.

A Little Italian Child Ground Under the
Wheels at a Crowded Corner-Attorney
Moreland Says the City Cannot Be Re-
sponsible for Officers Negligence.
At $50 o'clock last evening little Italian
boy was ground to death under the wheels
of Pittsburg Traction car. The accident
occurred on Fifth avenue just above Smith
field street. 1t was just at the time great
crowds of people were hurrying along the
streets bound for home and supper. Many
of the latter were doubtless poorly relished
by those who saw the affair. Car No. l6 was
coming down the steep grade with a small
load.
Gripman c. NJ. Porter was sounding his
gong to clear the way across Smithield
street, and was just preparing to put on
brakes to slow up at the crowded corner.
Just then he saw a child run out from a door
TO his right and dart thu ough the crowd of
passersby toward the street. Closely fol-
lowing was woman, frantically endeavor-
ing to catch the child. The little one
reached the track just as the car did. 1t was
all over in an instant The gripman
saw the child in front of the car.
He put all his weight on the heavy brake
feet down the grade and then came to
halt When Gripman Porter looked out
again he saw a stream of blood trickling
down the rail.
Crushed Under the Wheels.
In moment crowd had gathered and
the mangled body waspuIled out from under
the wheels. The child was Viasi Vito, the 4
year-old son of Dominic Vito, who lives in
the rear of No. u9 Fifth avenue, just op-
posite the place where the accident oc-
Cured. The boy lived about 20 minutes
after being carried from the street. His
head and left side were crushed by the
wheels
Coroner Mcdowell was on hand in a few
moments, and empaneled a jury. After
viewing the body, it adjourned until liz
O'Clock this morning, when the inquest will
be held. In the meantime the car had gone
on down around the loop, leaving a bloody
mark on the rails at each revolution of the
wheels. When it reached the corner of
Smithfeld street Detective Shore boarded
1t. He stood back of Gripman Porter until
he finished his trip at the other end of the
line. where the detective placed him under
arrest.
Laterfn the evening Superinten dent Davis
furnished bail in the sum - 900 for Porter'S
appearance at the inquest this morning.
The City Will Not Be Liable.
Two serious accidents on traction lines
in as many days caused considerable COM
ment about the city last night. The pro-
posed ordinance for licensing cars and de-
voting the proceeds to hiring officers to
watch dangerous corners came in for its
share of the talk. The point has been
raised that the city, by thus hiring these
men, becomes liable to suits for damages in
case of accidents resulting from the negli-
gence of such officers. City Attorney More
land vas asked yesterday whether this
would be the case or not.
THAT question has been decided time and
time again" said he. If an accident results
from the negligence of the company operat-
ing the road. it will, of course, be held re-
sponsible. In case it is caused by any neg
lect on the part of the officer at the corner,
he is individually responsible, and not the
party hiring him. The city will get into no
litigatlons on that question"