The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-19
8 on THE TRIBUNE MUST PAY
For Benzine Recklesly Wasted Which Set
a Roofer on Fire.

a Roofer on Fire.
The editorial rooms OF the New York Tribune
were full OF gloom yesterday and in the busi-
ness Office every employee wore a look OF
solemn grief, for the Court OF Appeals had de-
cided that one OF the employees had violated
the most sacred rule OF the establishment. and.
moreover. that the proprietor OF the papsr was
responsible for his act. although he had tear
fully disavowed it. to the extent Of $1,000.
Late last night there could be heard the sound
OF the axe reducing expenses.
The most sarred rule in the Tribune estab-
llshment Is that nothing shall be thrown away.
After the printers towelsh have been used until
even printers rebel and demand clean ones.
they are broken up and fed into the furnace.
The stubs OF the reporters pencils are ground
UP into ink when they become too short to
handle. No waste is allowed. and every man
understands 1t. for tho rule is before him al
ways. How one OF their number came to vio-
late the rule is a mystery to the employees.
One day several months ago John A. Glen
non. an employee in:the composing room Of
the Tribune. was set to work cleaning the type
setting machines. His duty was to pour ben
z 1,n I %Fnisbsd By BY the he 7f 7ris%ns int eie q snsl' .Sc
matrices. and then pour the bsnzine back into
u can furnished by the Tribune. His orders
benzine. These orders were very strict. But
Glennon. probably in q fl OF abstraction. dis
obeyed the oroers. After he had cleaned the
matrices he went to an open window and
threw the Iri6une's benzine out.
On the roof OF the HerOld building below tho
window from which Glennon wastefully threw
the IribuuP'S benZine. was Charles Riegler. q
plumber ami roofer. soldering sheets OF tin.
Beside him stood his furnace. and some Of the
Tribupp's benzine fell into the flame. It farad
up and burned the plumber severely. He sued
the Tribune. IN the lower court he recovered
q verdict OF 5000 and costs. The Tribune
appealed. arguing that It's servant; Glennon,
had disobeyed a strict rule and wasted its ben
zine, The Appellate Division OF the supreme
Court held that the verdict was a lust and
proper one. Justices:Patterson O,Brien and
was written by Patterson. j. In it he says:
non was engaged in the business OF the mas
ter when he committed this wrongful act re-
sulting in the Injuries to the plaintiff. That
he was SO engaged seems 10 be indisputable.
He was furnished with the benzine TO clean
parts OF the machinery. and II was his duty to
use that benzine in the shallow pan and, to
empty II from the pan. His act Of emptylng
the benzine was as much q part OF his duty as
1t Was to use it. Instead OF pouring II into an
other can he EN- ptied IL out OF a window and
1t fell uron adjoining property. He was lust
rs much en- gagged In the course and scope OF
his employment In doing this as in any other
detail OF the work ne was hired to perform.
He was acting In disobedience Of his masters
orders. but. nevertheless. II. was in the prose-
cution OF his masters business. and that IL
the test. and not whether II was done In ac-
ccrdance with the masters instructions"