The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
VALLEY STREAM INQUEST.
TALLY-HO DRIpER MCCORMICK ON
THE FITNESS STAND.

re DID Not Realize tho Danger or the Crossing
Until Too Lhte-Did Not send n Man
Ahead Because he was sure No Train WAS
ApproachinR-Did Not Sec the sign Post.
Several witnesses gave testimony favorable to
the Long Island Railroad yesterday ut tho third
session Of the inquest at 1nwood. L. l.. on tho
Valley Stream disaster OF Memorial Day.
District Attorney Youngs was present. and tho
State Railroad Commission was represented by
Commissioners Ashley Cole and Lawyer Charles
II. DE Freest. Lawyers Ingraham and Kelly
were present in the interests Of the railroad, and
the families of the killed and some of the injured
were also represented by counsel. The most i'm.
portant witness was Henry Mccormick, who
drove the Inflated ~tally.ho.
John c. Hendrickson, a farmer, was the first
witness. He said he drove In the wake OF the
tally.ho party for about q mile. They were In
high spirits, singing and laughing. Shortly boz
fore reaching the railroad tracks hc passed tho
coach. As he drove over the tracks he thought
he heard tho rumble of a train. Refining his
horse, hc turned and waved his hat at the coach
ing party as a warning to keep back. But the
driver either did not seq him or paid no atten.
ton. The collision occurcd a few minutes later.
He said he was uncertaip about the engine
whistling or whether the alarm bell at the cross
ing rang.
house OF Jacob Colder, n pcddlsr, whose home is
naar the whistling post. She he ,rd the whistle
as tho train passed H. house, She was positive.
the bell at the crossing she said she could mob
speak Of her own kncNledse,, but had head
Miss .jGiiia ] jenkins q, Il PHI Piiiin S's street and
Mrs. Mary REIN OF 1s Pilling street were mem
bers of the party OF Clarcmont Club cyclcrs who
crossed ahead Of the co tchine. party, and were
when the collision occurred. Both said they
heard the whistle blow. 1t was not long after.
ward that the collision occurred. Neither heard
me Igll nj he CTn-2lnR.
Richard Gribbon Of ia. North Fifth street.
was first assistant to, the driver Of the ~tally-bo.
He testified that as they neared the track tho
party was INDUCING in confideraole laughter
were on the track did he hear the rumble Of the
train. The middle team was on the track before
he saw the sYngine, like 2 big; black house"
do, Gribben asserted, but WHY up and try to
cross:
and, run ahead when you approached the rail.
road crossing Don't you consider that 1t was
Mr.. Coroner" interrupted ex-Judge A. H.
DALEY, counsel for Gribben, I would ask that
event Of his being charged with criminal negli-
gence;" The Coroner SO instructed the witness.
who, however. said he knew 1t was his duty TO
look, out for trains for the protection of the
Edward Kenny Of 146 North Ninth street.
Brooklyn, the second assistant driver, corrobo-
rated Gribben. He also acknowledged that 10
clarcd he did not see the railroad sign post
! Then Driver McCorm' ok took the stand. Law
yer Daley asked the Coroner 10 instruct him
% he had done, Gribben. The Coroner did 80.
Mccormick said he had been badly hurt and was
still in poor health owing 10 his injuries: He
said he did not realize tina: he|yas at "A railroad
crossing until the leaders were fairly on the
track. He saw no sign post. He heard no bell.
When he saw the train there was no time to
turn off the tack. Had he seen the train conf
ing before his leaders were on the track he could
haye stopped the coach easily as the horses were
going only at Il Jog trot.
Was il not your duty to send a man aheadf"
quericd the Coroner.
Not hearing n sound of a bell or anything
was sure a train WAS not coming was tho
answer.
Thomas Connell, who declared that he was a
Thousand feet away from the Merrick road and
not many feet from The whistling post, heard
the engine whistle MS il passed.
The Coroner adjourned tho inquest until
Thursday, June "a, at 9:3 \. NJ.