The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-23
x1L1BD WHltE~IYiSo ON rRAoK.
1aoterman says R,iey wss In the Dense
shndaw or an Electric Light.

Just after 4 o'clock yesterday morning a troll
ley car OF tho South Orange md Newark limo
ran over Il man who was lying on the track In
vailsburg. 100 feet west OF the Newark line.
Motorman John Kcnney OF Newark was run
ming tho cor toward the stable In that city. 1t
was his last trip, and he was not tagging. Thoro
was only one passenger aboard, and it was not
likely that there would be any more Mt that
hour and in that lonely stretch OF tho road.
Kenney was within 200 feet OF the PROSTATE man
before he saw him. He says the victim was
lying In the black shadow cast by an electric
light over his head, and that the light dazzled
his own eyes. when no did soc the man he did
oil he could to stop. but II was too late.
Conductor Spies and the passenger went back
and found tho man quite dead.
The case was reported at tho Fourth precinct
station by Kenney, who submitted to arrest. and
the body was sent to the Morgue. During tho
day It was pretty thoroughly decided that the
hody was that OF Philip Riley, n dissipated stone
polisher. who seems to have had no home or
family ties, and for twenty ycnrs had led n vaga-
bond life. For some years hc had slept on a pilo
Of rags in Kcnngott's stonc.yard shed, near
where he was killed. On Tuesday night Riley
was put out OF Robert Korr's saloon. at SOP
South Orange avenue. by the proprietor, who
wanted to close up. This was shortly before 1
o'clock. Lttor he was seen In we other saloons.
At Q o'clock q car passed down over the track
upon which he was killed. Then no more ears
passed that way until Kenney went by. going
west, on tho other side OF the avenue shortly
before 4. He rays he did not see the man there
because he was watching tho track he was on.
An effort was. made yesterday to work up q
theory of foul play in the case. but County Ply
stefan Washington thinks there are no grounds
for suspicion. A singular feature of the
case is the action OF William Matzart, a
stableman employed by George o. Smith Of
Sand ord street, Matzart is an old man, and
that 10 all there Is In extenuation of his action,
or rather want of action. He voluntarily told
the police Yesterday that he saw a man lying on
the track Just before 4 o'clock In the morning.
as he was walking down from his home to his
employers stables and that he spoke to the man,
who was lying face downward with his arms
folded under his head. The man did not answer.
he said. but he knew that he was alive, because
he heard him snoring.
II said to myself he told the police. "let
him alone, he'll wake fast enough whom the next
trolley comes down."
Shortly afterward Matzart met a milkman
going up and told him about the man, saying 1t
would be a good thing to pick him up. As usual,
several witnesses were found who said they heard
quarrellinE in tho road early in the morning,
and one who heard somebody say. I'm fix YOU.
1t is suggested. that the snoring heard by Mat.
Fart may have been the stertorious breathing
sometimes caused by apoplexy.
kenney, the motorman, was paroled yester'
day. Riley. who was Us years old, Will be buried
by the city unless somebody claims his remains.