Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-06
THE TUNNEL INQUEST.

The Omcers and Directors of the Con-
sofdatcd and Engineer Fowler
Held Responsible for the Disaster
The Charge to the Jury-Warrants
to be Issued for the Officers of the
Consolidated To-Day.
New YORK, March 5.-The inquiry by
Coroner Levy and his jury into the cir
cumstances attending the disaster in the
Fourth avenue tunnel which resulted in
the death of six persons was concluded
this evening. The investigation was re-
sumed this afternoon. Engineer Fowler,
of the New Haven train which ran into the
shop train, was recalled, and he reasserted
that he had passed a safety light at Seven
ty-second street. McGovern, who was in
charge of the signal at Fifty-seventh
street, testified that he had passed the
shop train through and that two minutes
later the signalman at Seventy second
street, McManus, notified him that the
train had passed all right. McGovern
then displayed the safety signal and the
New Haven train was let through.
Deputy Coroner Conway then testified
as to the causes of the death of the six per-
from burns and one from suffocation.
Coroner Levy then charged the jury, tell
ing them that it was for them to determine
whether the collision was caused by care
lessness, and if SO where the responsibility
lay. 1t was also for them to decide wheth-
er the stoves in the cars, which the state
prohibits were the cause of death. The
coroner said it was clear that the cars were
set on fire by Goals from the overturned
stnyraa and If Iaatb roo,11tal
gal use of stoves the company using them
was criminally responsible. The jury then
retired.
The coroner's jury in the tunnel inquest
brought in verdict holding the officers
and directors of the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford Railroad company and
Engineer Fowler responsible for the dias-
ter. The officers and directors will be re-
quired to give bail tomorrow to await the
action of the grand jury. Engineer Fow-
Ter is already under bail.
The jury find that the danger signals
were properly set at the time the New
York, New Haven and Hartford train
passed them, but believe that owing to the
density of the atmosphere in the tunnel at
the time Engineer Fowler, of the New
Haven train, did not clearly see the signal.
They also find that the officials of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford are Grim
inally responsible for the loss of life be-
cause of the failure of Engineer Fowler to
distinguish the danger signal and thus
causing the collision with the shop train
and further, that the officials of the COM
pany are responsible for the death by sufi-
cation and burning of two of the victims
of the wreck, caused by the upsetting of
car-stove which set fire to the wreck. They
recommend that the legislature compel the
New York Central and Hudson River
railroad to make additional openings in
the tunnel and also that two men be en-
ployed in the signal cabs instead of one
as at present. They further recommend
that a uniform rate of speed be adopted
for all trains passing through the tunnel.
Coroner Levy announced to night that
he would issue a warrant for the officers
and directors of the New York, New Haven
and Hartford railroad tomorrow and have
them placed under bonds to await the
"ction of the grand jury.
Engineer Fowler and Operators Nc
Manus and Breen will be released from
their bonds