New-York tribune., 1891-03-06
AGAINST THE RAILROAD.
NEW HAVEN OFFICIALS HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE TUNNEL DISASTER.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS TO BE PUT UNDER
BONDS TO APPEAR BEFORE THE GRAND
JUEY-vERDICT OF THE COR
ONEp'S uTRY
ONER'S JURY.

ONER > Jbh1'
The last testimony before the Coroner regard
Ing the disaster in the Fonrth-ave. tunnel was
heard yesterday. and at its close the jurors
went out. After long deliberation they re-
turned at o 80 p. m, and announced the follow
ing verdict:
Lew to n@@ro nG HFy e dSa Of ~
,upPe, William Anton Zollner JGhn Pm N Wien hencHg,
ne 3urth ave: tunnel on the morning OF FEBRUARY
Frst-That the prcponderance Of evidence shows
tha the signal, We're properly set at danger at inc
tine the New York Newayen and Hartford IT train
20, and the fury believe. that, owing to the density
OF the atmosphere in the tunnel due to the presence
ot FOG smoke and steam Engineer Fowler OF the
New-York, New-IIavcn and Hartford Railroad Com
sny dd NOT clearly see the ,gnal 1t Is a9 i9rGer HS
hear the gong. If it rang on the day Of the accident
when his train paS-cd the daTger & light ovoo and
Hartford Railroad Company. its Officers
sa o SeGo are sn1 aS the ohdPSo hre
toforc mentioned. bccau-e Of the failure Ot Engineer
Fowler TO distinguish the danger signal at seventy
secord'st.. and thus causing the collision with the
shop train and further find that the Ncw-iork.
New Haven and Hartford Company. it. officers and
directors. Immediately responsible for the death
BY snfocatOn and burning Of John Murray ana
Jane, 4. Flynn. which was caused by the upsettin9
tac charge Of the New York New Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company. and setting fire to the wreck by
reason Of the collision.
Thlrd-We would urge the Legislature TO compel the
NcWIcrk Central and Hudson River Railroad Com
pany to mako additional openings In the tunnel. In
order 70 provide for better ventilation and llght IN
sid tunnel. aS from personal examination we find
that the present ventilation and light are inadequate
and do further believe that the use Of anthracite
coal when additional openings are made viii con
tribute 70 the Safoy OF ;hc traffic. We further be
lcve that the present system Of the Of one man
In the signal cabs in the tunnel IS insufficient for
safety. and wc earnestly recommend the employment
Of two at all times
We further recommend that each outgoing and
incoming train when passing through the tunnel be
advised oi Tho train Immediately preceding it, and
also it, reasonable hcadway. And we further recon
mcnd that uniform rate Of speed he adopted for
all trains and engine, passing through the tunnel
Coroner Levy announced that he would issue
warrants this morning for the arrest of the
officers and directors of the Ncw-lork New
Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, and have
them placed under bond - await the action Of
the Grand Jury Of this county. Some trouble
may he experienced in carrying out tins pro-
grammc. rs the greater number Of the officials Of
this road live in Connecticut. Coroner Levy will
also send copy Of the verdict 10
the LEGISLATURE at Albany for It's consideration
Assistant District Attorney Lynn assured the
Coroner that tie Disirict-Attorncy would second
him in all his work He would cooperate with
the Coroner in securing the arrest and the punish
mcut of the Ncw-liayec officials for the death Of
Murray and Flynn He would further do all in
his power TO call the attention of the Legislature
to the present stat" OF an1rS and il possible Sc
cure proper legislation.
The whole question Will Immediately bc pre-
srntcd by the District-Attorncy to the Grand Jury
for their consideration. The machinery of the
District-Attorneys office will he put in motion al
once to bring the responsible parties for this acc
dent 10 justice.
William n. Wckham, the foreman OF the jury.
thanked the Coroner for the courtesy that had
IL. ,l in or 1pp
full reply. thanked the jurymen for the attention
which they had given to the case Assistant DIS
irict Attorney Lynn was in thankful frame
Of mind and made a few remarks 10 his associates
in the case. taking occasion TO promise to do hls
part toward carrying out the Instructions ana
recommendations OF the jury.
1t was with some difficulty that the jury arrived
at their verdict Each question was warmly dis
cus.ed and there was some difference of opinion,
but all heartily coucurrcd in the verdict gwen.
The engineer Fowler. and the operators, McAlahuS
and Brecn. will be- released from their bonds.
Coroner Levy will attend TO the issuing OF the
warrants for the arrest of the Newliavcn officials
this morning.
Louis Fowler, the engineer, was recalled at the
opening Of the days session and repeated MS
former story ol the accident
DR.. Conway. who examined the bodies at the
Moreuc, testified 10 the cause OF d'ath. lie
said tAat fire had contributed 10 the Geath oi al
of them. with possibly one exception. lhlS 'N7
ccr'ion w1s Willi'm 4 1.rnef. who had I'crlVri
sriI ,17-ud i'm the back inflicted, he thought, bI
tLr IRON arm of Il seal. In his case tacrc WIS no
pro,ruGin. of the tongue. which WAS the chief
signs that death had resulted from snii3cati"h.
/,.. ,.- also had IT. fracture! skull. IN the ease
OF John Murray. death might have resulted from
other Iniurlr, but the chief cause OF death was
SulocatiOn. IL
Michael Nmllanc. the fourtccn-year-old boy. had
cuu,nuuud fracture, of the and legs, ana
ffom these death had resulted. The Deputy Coro-
ncr found that j. g. FknnS injuries had been
SLIGHT and ne believed that death had resulted
wholly from Sunocation and burns In tine case
Of Helen + supple. hc could net say whether death
had been caused hy sutocation or bN'othrr IN
inrir, Her body was terribly burned, but her
other injuries were severe.
After fuithcr medical testimony Coroner Levy
made his charge. and the jury retired at Aall-p"st
/ o'clock.