New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-04
TROLLEY COMPANY INDICTED.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS RAILROAD COR
PORATION CHARGED WITH MAN
SLAUGHTER.
ACTION OF THE GRAND JURY REGARDING THE
KILLING OF MRS MFDINGER-A DEMAND
FOR LAW REQUIRING
SAFETY l.. TENDERS.

SAFETY :. RENDERS.
The Kings County Grand Jury made present.
ment - Judge Moore in the Court of Sessions yes
terday indcting the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
Company for manslaughter In the second degree for
the killing of Mrs Mary Medinger in front of ST.
Paul's Church in Court-st., on the night or March
20 last, a messenger was at dispatched from
the District Attorneys Office 10 the office OF the
COMPANY. summoning the officers 10 appear IN
court next Friday for the purpose of pleading to the
Indictment In rectlng the duty of the indicted
company the presentment states: 1T was the duty
Of said corpora ton TO carefully. ski!fully and eau
fously operate, manage and direct the operation OF
the said vehicles. commonly called trolley cars
when the were In transit upon the streets
ard highways of the city of Brooklyn; and 10
propel. operate and run said cars at reasonable
cautious careful safe and proper rate OF speed. so
that the lives and safety Of the citizens. OF the
said city OF Brooklyn. passing and repassing. along
upon and the streets and public highways
OF the city of Brooklyn. used and occupied by SAID
corporation as a railway should not IN any wise
be endangered by reason Of such occupancy ana
use. The Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company. on
the day and year aforesaid unmindful OF It's duty
as herenbefore set forth. did wilfully, knowingly
and feloniously neglect so 10 do
Because Of this cupable careessness the present.
ment says that Mrs. Medinger was killed. The pre-
sentiment also touched upon the question OF iehuers
for the trolley follows
In this connection beg also 70 present our
opnion that the tenders In the trolley cars
operated in the city of Brooklyn are not proper
and sufficient protection TO human NE ana that
the wheel guards the cars OF all the companies
are OF little value in preventing loss OF nle
We would therefore, call the attention OF the STATE
LEGISLATURE in session at Albany % the neces-
sity for the immediate passage or raw requiring
the adoption by all surface railroads. whether OPP
Grated horse trolley cable OF the best avail
able safeguards for the protection OF human lie
and limb.
The company is indicted as a corporation The
corporation as such is represented by its executive
officers viz. president, vice-president, secretary
manager and Board Of Directors. These. however
are not personally liable. Because the corporation
as such is an inanimate artificial creation II can
not be punished by Imprisonment. The highest pun
ishment possible Is a fine OF 5000 which can be
lessened by the judge down TO cent. which is the
minimum punishment -, 49,, ..,..
The Grand Jury was discharged with the thanks
of the Court The following witnesses are sum
moned in the Medinger case: Johanna Prendcr-
CAST Henry ]. Devine. John Sheehan. George r.
White Robert II Newson, Frank Stewart. Dwight
Kingsbury Daniel +. Lewis. W. A. H. Bogardns
J. {. Cameron. Robert A Thompson John HeiN'n
and Colonel Partridge ,>,-, :,
The six last witnesses are railroad men. Danie r.
Lewis being the president OF the Brooklyn Heights
Company; w. A. H. Bogarlus. the general manager
of the same company: John Hefkn Is the genera
manager OF the Nassau Electric Roas. ana toionel
Partridge is the president of the DE kalb-ave.
system.