New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-23
ORK TUESDAY. JANUARY 23, 1894 TWELVE P
TRIED TO BRIBE THE JURY.
SENSATIONAL STATEMENT MADE BY THE
FOREMAN
INQUEST INTO THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE
ACCIDENT ON THE DELAWARE. LAcKA-
WANNA AND WESTERN RAILROAD
BEGUN IN HOBoKEN

The Coroner's inquest into the causes which
led to the accident the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad on January 10 was
begun last night in the German Quartet Hall.
Hoboken. Occupying front seats during the
hearing were Superintendent Anthony Rea-
soner, Assistant Superintendent Frank Grif-
fiths and William Lewis. Of the company, and
ex-senator John Grggs, of Paterson as coun-
sci. The crews Of both the South Orange and
Dover trains had been subpoenaed. and were
present. with the exception OF the engineer. Hoff-
man. and the conductor. jeremiah George, who
were too Ill.
The inquest was held over the death Of Will
lam IL. Turner and the verdict In the case will
stand for a verdict in the cases OF the ten
others who met death In the accident. The
inquest was held by Coroner Anthony ]. Volk
and the following jury: +. w. Bender, foreman;
Henry IIirtler, \. =. Hexamer. sr. John r.
Virgins. j. \. Heath. II. V. McDermott. Martin
Dabb, Henry Lohman r. A. Aberts. John Brun-
ng Adoph Lankering and Ferdinand Eichner.
There was a long wait for the jurymen, and
1t was S:25 O'Clock when finally they entered the
hall. When they were seated. Foreman Bender
apologized TO the Coroner and others present
Tor the delay IL manner which created a sensa-
lion.
The foreman said the delay was caused by
the jurymen, who had been discussing a state
ment which was published on Saturday that an
attempt had been made 10 bribe the jury. lie
said the charges were in part true-that an at
tempt had been mace. but that no offer had
been rendered The facts of the case, he said
would be presented TO the Grand Jury to-day
for investigation.
George Sucher. engineer of the Dover ex-
press testified that he lived at Dover. The
train on the morning Of the accident left East
leased
of" when off the carshops Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and blown three whistles at the Sand
ford crossing He had shut off steam 800 feet
from the west side of the bridge.
Foreman Bender asked the witness: "Did
your train come to dead stop before the acci-
dent?"
Could you see the signal on the bridge when
the accident happened?" asked the foreman
Il cannot answer that question: replied the
witness
"Who controls the nagman?" inquired Juror
Mr.. Lankering.
"IIe uses his own judgment but If I bring the
train to q dead stop and blow three whistles he
gets off. lie knows when to get off the train
if slow up; he can judge the rate of speed for
that purpose. | don't know of my own knowl-
edge that the flagnan got off when slowed up
Continuing. the witness said torpedoes did not
always mean that the train should stop, but
they never meant that it should go ahead. In
answer TO a question by Juror Lohman, the
witness said: 81 let East Newark four minutes
late; it not my duty to 60 ahead fast TO
avoid the train behind me. because there was
a train preceding me- We ran schedule time
from Newark Our instructions are to be care
full in fog We use our own judgment. If the
nagman had got off my train in time. ne could
have warned the approaching train; / do not
know that he was not off the train. You must
get that information from others. don't con-
trol the nagman. The hagman | dropped was
d. i. Wheaton. and | think the name Of the
one picked up was VIII Carter"
The other witnesses were Frank Cooper, the
fireman on the engine Of the Dover express;
De Witt y. Wheaton, the rear brakeman and
nagman OF the Dover express; John Price and
Abram Ayres. brakeman and baggage-master.