New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-29
HERRICK'S STATEMENT.
THE NEGLIGENT BRAKEMAN HEARD FROM
STILL IN HIDING, HE COMMUNICATES WITH
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD OFFICIALS
THROUGH HIS FATIIER
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.i

THE CENTRAL RAILROAD OFFICIALS
THROUGH HIS FATnER
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSEi
Poughlyecpsie Dec. 2s.-Chief Detective William
Humphrey, of the New-York Central and Hudson
River Railroad, and one of his men on Sunday
evening visited Staatsburg to have an interview
with Timothy Herrck, relative to the movements
of his son, Albert IIerrick, the rear brakeman OF
the ill-fated Niagara Falls Express. Mr.. Herrick
manages the Dinsmore place at Staatsburg, and
is a man whose character is beyond question.
Mr.. Hcrrick was asked by Chief Humphrey if
his son was at home. Mr.. Herricl< answered in
the negative.
Have YOU seen him., asked the Chief, since
the accident?"
Mr. Herrick replied that he saw him in New
York on Saturday last and had long talk with
him. lie said he uraed his son to go to the rail-
road officials and tell them his story. but could
not get him to do because of the state OF
public feeling. Then his father got him to make
a statement on paper and bade him goOd-by,
telling him he did not want to hear from him
unlss he was seriously i'll, because he would be
questioned continually about him. lie told him
to write no letters nor would hc the father, write
to him.
I'VE want him before the Coroners jury next
Wednesday to make his statement" said Chief
Humphrey.
lie has made his statement" replied Mr.
Herrick and mailed it to-day to Superintendent
Mccoy, who WILL no doubt, receive it Monday
morning
This ended the interview, and Chief Humphrey
returned TO Poughheepsie. Timothy Herrick came
to Poughkeepsie to-day, and, in an interview, he
said he does not now know where his son is, nor
does he want to know. He said the postmaster
at Staatsburg asserts the right to inspect all letters
sent TO him and he had writt,n a letter stating
the facts td Postmaster General Wanamaker
He said that Pinkerton men were watching his
movements, as are other officers, hoping in that
way to ascertain where his son is. His son told
bim in the interview last Saturday that he does
not deem it safe to appear till public opinion be-
comes calm, so that he can be fairly heard. When
asked about the statement his son had made he
produced a copy of it, 1t reads as follows:
ID. B. Mccoy, Esq, Superintendent, etc.
Dear sir would say in reference to TIE accident
nofii Of Hastings Christmas Eve that, when oar tain
placed two torpedoes on the rail- and then ran back to
The train which still moving. But, as 1t slowed
to S s Sa 6on ocs s'i them I nearly %S" When
way down placed one torpedo on the rail, ana then
notify the engineer there than stop him again before
he was fairly under way. When got to the station
south and then then stepped into the Station and inquired
OF the agent how the local was He said he did not
know and sat down and remained there three TO five
minutes when heard the train coming and started for
the door, believing II to be the local. But
saw the train know 1t the express. and grabbed
my light and tried to attract the engineers attention.
but il was too late.
I followed up the track. hoping that the train
had left twenty minutes before had pulled ont Of the
way. soon saw man coming back with red light:
Soon as got to him | asked what had happened. and
lie said they had struck something but he did not know
what It was: I went on further and met another
ia no dss% pdet for
to go to the wreck so turned about and came to New
in, and only say felt too sure the train to
first the local. ALBERT HERRICk.
It will be seen that young Herrick says he
placed torpedoes on the track. This part of the
statement has not been made public before. The
elder Herrick says that the young mans mother
is almost heartbroken over the situation.