Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-04-11
THE TROLLEY VERDICT.
DEPUTY coRoNER'S JURY RENDERED
A DECISION YESTERDAY.
Failure of the Conductor to Properly
Apply the Brake Is Said to BE the
Cause of the Accident-LacIs ot Pres
ence of Mind Severely Criticised.

Cause of the Accident-LacIs ot Pres
ence of Mind Severely Criticised.
The investigation of the trolley acci-
dent at Jeanesville, in which four per-
sons were killed two weeks ago, was re-
sumed on Tuesday night by the jury
appointed by the deputy coroner. john
Kelly, OF Audenried, one of the passen-
gers who stood on the rear platform,
testified as to how he had to fight with
the panic-stricken passengers to keep
them on. He saw but one person Jump
and strike post. Miss Harrity, of
Beaver Meadow, described the excite
ment attending the discovery that the
car was beyond control.
Conductor Henry Sachs swore that
both doors were open when the car
started down the hill. He saw the mo-
torman reach for the current switch and
saw his lips move as if appealing for aid.
He jumped for the brake, but had bare
ly drawn up the slack when the passen-
gers became panic stricken and crowded
him against the beam.
In this position he was held as If in a
wise. When the car jumped the track
he was thrown out of it. He was posi-
tive had the passengers not crowded on
top of him he could have controlled the
car within thirty feet after first reach
ing the brake.
G. A. Thompson, superintendent of
the road, was sworn and testified to the
condition of the cars. Instances were
cited where another runaway car going
down the same grade filed with passen-
gers kept the rails for the entire dis
tance, showing that if the passengers
had not crowded at one end on this oc-
casion the accident might have been
averted.
AlAin Markle, manager of the road,
testified to the appliances on the cars
and demonstrated that had they been
used at all the accident could hardly
have occurred. Other employees were
present and told of the safety machinery
with which the cars are equipped.
The jury met yesterday and after
spending several hours reviewing the
testimony gave out the following as the
verdict in the case:
1--WE find that Mrs. Arabella Earley
and son came to their death at Jeanes-
vile, Luzerne county, on Saturday,
March 80, by being thrown from car
No. 20, of the Lehgh Traction Company.
The primary cause OF the accident
wherein The said Arabeila Earley and
son, Edward, came to their dea IN was
the breaking of the chain connected
with the brake on front of the car, while
descending grade of per cent on the
south side of Jeanesville hill.
"We believe that said car 20 was
equipped with sufficient brakes to insnre
its control and safety, had said brakes
been properly applied. We further be-
lieve that had the hind or rear brake
been properly applied, as directed to
have been done by the motorman, the
speed OF the car would have been check
ed and the accident averted.
1.-The failure to properly apply said
brake in this emergency showed lack
of presence OF midd and want of ability
and aptitude, which are necessary in
one occupying the responsible position
OF conductor"
In the case of Mrs. Evans, the iury
found that she came to her death from
injuries received in the car, by board
piercing her thigh and breaking four of
her ribs.
In the case of Mrs. Anna Williams
the jury found that she came to her
death by either being thrown or Jump
ing from the said car