New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-25
ROAD HELD RESPONSIBLE.
CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OF THE LONG
ISLAND COMPANY ALLEGED.
THE CORONERs JURY on THE VALLEY STREAM
DISASTER FINISHES IT'S WORK-LAWYERS
SAY THE JURY WAS PREJUDICED-
THE GRAND JURY TO
TAKE ACTION
TAKE ACTION.

TAKE ACTION.
The inquest into the Merrck Road crossing
accident near Valley Stream. on the Long lsland
Railroad. on May 81. when five people were
killed, ended at Inwood. Long Island. yesterday
The Long Island Railroad Company was fouhd
responsible for the deaths. The five killed were
George f. Pashley, jr, Of No. S24 Halsey-st';
William Gilchrist. jr, of No. 233 Rutledge-st'
Winslow Lewis, of No. 10S3ia DeKalb-ave.;
Lester W. Roberts. of No. 511A Monroe-st, ana
Miss Dora Burtsch, Of No. 259 Stuyvesant-aVe'
all Of Brooklyn. The Coroner's jury whch con-
sisted OF John y. Taylor, foreman; i. -
Bawker. Charles a. Bawker, Theodore Sprague'
Jarvis Hicks. Leonard Haynes Charles W.
Smith, Edward Rinehardt and Frank Smith,
signed the following verdict:
We find that the persons named in the ingusltiioh
met their death by collision or coach N M,.icn i
the said persons riding along the McLIlcH
Road. at or near Valley Stream, with Il uain ,a -,
cars on the Long Island Raroad at oneany Ie crossing
We further that the said Long lsiana Kai, IL
road criminay negligent In not keeping i
order the electric bell at said crossing.
The verdict was not a surprise to the law
yers. as they said the jury was prejudiced from
the first. and that no other verdict could have
beer expected. There two witnesses eX-
amined yesterday before the Coroner charged
y,
with that given at the previous sessions Of the
inques..
Coroner Coombs charged the jury that there
was negligence somewhere, and that II was the
duty Of the jury to find out who was at fault
The lawyers at the inquest representing the
sixteen persons injured In the same accident. as
well as the relatives Of the killed were In hlgh
Glec over the verdict and vii! Immediately
cutt
were members OF tho Alpha Delta Society or
the Greene Avenue Baptist Church, Of Brook
lyn. out 10 enjoy Memorial Day. The lawyers
were especially elated over the fact that no
mention was made of the driver. Harry Nc
Cormlck in the verdict. Some Of them feared
that the Jury would also censure him for not
having Sent man ahead TO see if train was
approaching.
Coroner Coombs stated yesterday that the case
would go before the Queens County Grand Jury,
IN session in Long Island City to-day. He said
that the subpoenas TO the witnesses were Is
sued on Monday. and that they all would be
on hand to testify tomorrow. The Coroner
added that he was satisfied with the verdict
given by the jury. and 1t now remained with the
Grand Jury to do It's duty in the matter
District-Attorney William J. Youngs or
Queens County. was seen in Long Island CIty
lie said that as the Coroner's jury mad endeo
It's Investigation and had found the railroad re
anonsihIe tho Grand Jury would begin an in
vestigatlon at once The railroad officials. mem,
bers OF the coaching party, the drivers ana
those who witnessed the collision VIII De caIleu
,,nnn 70 g,vo testimony \ thorough investga-
ton would be held, matter who was MT
Several reporters called At the office or the
Long Island Railroad In Long Island Guy yes
tordsv afternoon TO see President w. II. Bald
win tr. of the road. regarding the verdict. IT
was said that President Baldwin was absent ana
would not return his Office during the Day
In his absence no one would talk on behalf OF
road.