The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-16
THE SWITCHMAN Is BLAMED. |
ARREST OF MICHAEL DONoGHUE
ron THE NBWBURGH ACCIDENT.


The Corouer's Jury Say the Disaster Was
Caused by Hts CareIessnors or Neglect
Was tho Switch shut Amer the Accideuts
NEwBuReH. July 10. Tho testimony taken
before Coroner Corwin's jury to-day. in tho
case OF tho accident to the day express on the
West Shore Railroad on Thursday. was such
that tho switch tender. Michael Donoghue.
was arrested this afternoon and charged with
mnn slaughte In the second degree. When
the Coroner and the jury met to-day, It was
found that Secretary William c. Hudson Of tho
State Railroad Commission was present. He
came to take an active part In examining wit
nesses. Switchman Donoghue was recalled.
He kept closely to his statement Of yesterday.
that the switch was set right for the
express to go on up the main track. He sald
that Section Boss Dyer was the second man to
approach him after the accident and Dyer
said: Mike how did it happen 7" To this, he
eaid. he quickly answered. Il don't know.
Dyer. You see how the switch is now; It Is
right" He said that as soon as the train passed
the switch he went over and found 1t right.
Gould you sec tho signal on the north-bound
track from the place ut which you stood2"
Yes"
How was It set2'
For a clear road"
You are In the habit OF looking for that sig
nal as you go over are your"
II always SEQ that 1t is all right"
"when you see 1t set for safety you assume
that the switch Is closed?"
IL do II both signal and switch are working
right"
From the time you fixed the switch at
safety for the north-b bound track until the time
express train No. / came up. did you remain
in full view OF both signal and switch? ?"
Yes"
did any one else interfere with the switch
during that timer"
NO"
so that. when the express train came up to
the switch. you can say positively that the
sg.ch Maf oi II the same condition as it was
Thomas F. .Maher OF. Parmenter street. an
tracks ana iooE Cd rixht down upon the express
sS 'H Ist The !ss M!sS"s s TsSn
ing train: When i DID not 20 thronsh the
switch he slack sned his speed to take a LOOK It
1t, and he said he found it omen 80 as to run the
Examination IAN Tobin said he stopped to- look
At the switch with the sole intent ., OF seeing If
accident sas His Attention was psrticnIarIy ar
rested. he said. because the new switch was
rusty; while the old rails were worn bright h,.r
tho section boss. Ho said the new switch that
his men had Just Put in wouldn't work sn well
was dinculty with the interlockine bolt.
When DonoEhue tried to throw the signal he
but not the distance G semaphore to safety
Then Mr. Dyer said he disconnected the lever
tho r steh he 9ns
the wreck. but only stayed four minutes;
right When asked how long it would take to
throw it right. he said it could be done in a
William Randall testifled that after helping
at the wreck he visited the switch and found 1t
then set ri Ght. but not connected with the Sig
Daniel Scheln. the engineer or tho express.
testified that after the wreck he asked bono-
rass an sa' h ssGs RSs
said it was strange that Z his train had
the the les heIs tho
switch and the wreck;
The remaining testimony was given e1;l by ply;
hoas this S.rdc 'f
III so Lie. % s:
son ju,e NcIes ana Charlie. + sstaire are those OF
Nclael bonoehu. WHO had ensTge q the ..i,sh: and
and Hudson River Railroad. iessees OF the West Shcra
for not employing competent men for hold.
ing such responsible positions
Recorder McCroskery committed Donoghue
for preliminary examination on Monday.
Bail was fixed at $4,000. which Donohhue. 1t
is said. will be unable to procure.
There are no moro deaths 10 record. and it
ia possible tho number will remain at seven.
The wounded at 81. Luke's hospital are all
doing we'll and the physicians in charge think
that all. with possibly one or two exceptions.
will recovcr. The only injured person able to
be out OF the hospital Is Miss Maggie Hutchn-
son OF Rochester. Her brother arrived here
last night and this morning she was taken
home.
HE CAUGHT THEM, NOT THEY HIN.