The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-11
SAW HIS son KILLED
Abraham Graham Unable to
Prevent a Trolley from
Crushing Out His
Boys Life.
ALMOST CRAZED WITH GRIEF
The Little Fellew Was Running tei
Meet His Father When the
Motor Struck Him.

That modern instrument of death--ths
trolley car-crushed out bright 3oung
life yesterday afternoon The victim was
| Melville Graham. the four-year-old son.
OF Abraham Lincoln Graham. editor OF
The Mirror weekly newspaper
The crcums tances surrounding the
child's death were pathetic and shocking
to degree. The boy was beheaded and
his little body mangled to such an ex-
tent as to be unrecognizable. His father
stood by, a helpless witness to the bloody
work of the juggernaut. Men and women
who saw the terrible accident fed from
the scene Mortified. Violence would.
doubtless, have been done the motorman
had not policemen arrived promptly and
taken him in custody.
Even when removed to Police Head
quarters he was not free from the anger
of the distracted relatives of the lad. The
moterman was being booked in head
quarters, surrounded by policemen, when
Ciry Marshal John Graham, an uncle OF
the innocent victim. rushed In, hatless
ana tears running. down his face. Brush-
ing by policemen he made his way to tna
side of the motorman and shouted
II dared take the law in my own
We're as dead as the child whose life you
have just crushed out This slaughter of
children must stop and will lead a move
ment TO put an end to it.
The City Marshal became alarming1y
excited and policemen by sheer force
made him retire. The motorman's eyes
almost as much affected as those to whom
the boy victim was near and dear.
With a half dozen or more young COM
panions Melville was playing tag in 'front.'
of his home at No. IS York street, which
Is about so feet west of Washington
street. They. were having a rollicking
attracted the attention of Peter Graham.
brother of Abraham, who keeps candy
and grocery store at No. 100 York street.
lookout fer trolley. cars in their sport and
then returned to his duties.
the little Graham bey wa was standing stan '0o on
Hudson County National Bank building
yree from the ns reeom N W
With a merry "Hello, papa" he scarn-
pered away from his companions and
rent stood at the edge of the sidewalks
with open arms ready to receive himsr
He had reached the centre of the tracks
street line. in charge Of Mstorman Henry
Kupker, of No. M Warren street. eama
tbundering along Seeing the ear the little
tot became confused and hesitated a mo-
ment. His father stood like one paralyzed.
He saw the peril of his child but seemed
paSore Reore 10 30 maze mSve 70 rescue & n
strument of death had done its work.
9snaa The Boys body was was :, pickes lSsS up BY the
that it @ reboursed fpcn and d landed duco on tb
tracks. The next instant the fender passe&
oyer him and the front wheels were on
up almost instantly. and then terror
stricken gazed on the terrible a'7rk.
The father rushed to the spot.. looked
covered his face with his hands to shass
out the awful sight and rushed from tha
scene scene crazed with nth grief, An exeite%
on his car and stood leaning over the
dashboard, gestieulating wildly and groan-1
He 5 not whaI ebange naVS 6s pogtion until
Peter Graham, the storekeeper mounted
the car, seized him by the. throat and
'sYou have killed my brothers child.
You are responsible for it. Like the rest
of you men you run your car recklesslys,
but you shall be made to answer for this.
Men in the crowd surrounded the car.si
and the situation assumed q serious as-s
pect. The notorman looked appealingl5T;
there. Policeman ODonnell had learned
of the accident and after sending to thei
Gregory str street stati2n On for no asssta1se M har
man under arrest. In the meantime the
a blanket 1t was finally picked up gently
and to the horror of everyone 1t vas
seen that the head was held to the body
The shocking scene caused many to hss-
ten from the spot,
The lifeless body. covered with blood
where the frantic father and mothers
waited to receive it. The agony of thoss4
6sobe Brought he tears to the @ Of
Men. women and children gathered on
the. stoop and harsh things were being
employees, when policemen compelled the.
crowd to disperse. AS soon as the excite
nent had subsided the conductor Of thel
the ferry AS soon as the car crossed
Washington street policemen scattered
ashes on the pool of blood on the track,
body Within ten minutes nearly all traca
of the most shocking trolley acciden1
which has yet occurred in this city had
usual, except perhaps with a trife more
precaution, and certainly a greater clang-,
sna Ds 6ang o fhe songa and hs
runrblifeg of the cars only added to thes
grief of the parents of the boy and serv-l
been slaughteared, that others for time
at least might be protected from the
recklessness and apparent disregard OF
Motorman .Kupker was formally charged
with manslaughter, and was at once
placed in a cell in the city prison; He
before Justice Potts last night his eyes
were red and swollen from crying. Coun-
senior MAX ROSENBERG, VINO is retained
by the Traction Company. was on hand
TO look after the prisoners interests.
Justice Potts held him in 5000 bail AZ
hendsman was found. but then Justice
Iippincott had to be found to accept
bail,
York street at the point where the acct.
dent occurred Is very busy thorough
fare. The trolley cars of the Erie street.
Montgomery street and Court House and
the Hoboken horse cars may be Seem
in the day.
Just about one year ago the life Of
cut not many feet from where Meivills
Graham met his untimely and terrible
DEATH