The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-18
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY
MOTORM1N and RAILROAD COM
PANY BLAMED.

Trolley Accident - Recomm endati II
to the Governor 10 Call an Extra
Session of the Mountaineering Jury's
Finding In Full.
Bridgeport, Aug. 1.-THE jury which
has been holding an inquest into the
causes of the trolley car accident on
| the Shelton Street Railway company s
bridge at Peck's mill pond, Sunday af-
| ternoon, August g. resulting in the loss
| of life, rendered their verdict just be-
| fore noon to-day. The finding is that
=, the motorman, George s. Hamilton.
who was in charge of the Inflated car
was guilty of criminal carelessness and
that the Shelton Street Railway COM
pany was very negligent in allowing
the roadbed to be In the condition eX-
listing on the day OF the accident, and
in not enforcing the order for slow
speed and constant inspection at the
point where the accident occurred.
RECOMMENDS SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE LEGISLATURE
The jury also recommended that the
governor Immediately call a special ses-
sion of the legislature for the passage
Of laws requiring the use of inside and
outside guard rails on all trolley car
bridges, licensing of motormen by
competent board, the reduction of the
number of working hours of motormen
III Itch. <xr,f
of a state board to have supervision of
the construction, and opera ton of all
trolley roads
The inquest which was conducted by
Coroner Doten was in session for nearly
week, the jury beginning it's deliber
ations in an attempt to reach verdict
about noon Wednesday. AT o'clock
yesterday afternoon the jury not hay
ing reached a verdict adjourned until
1890 o'clock this morning. After a ses-
sion lasting something over an hour
this morning the finding was rendered
FINDING OF THE JURY.
Following is the text of the finding: !
We find that by reason of the rapid |
running Of the car and the defective |
condition of the approach adjoining the |
bridge, the car was deraled We find |
that the guard rail. although of the |
style in general llse on all railroad |
bridges, was not effective in this case
by reason of the speed and momentum
OF the car.
We find that in view of the fact that |
the track was rev and untred, and the |
roadbed not completed, the car was run
ming at n dangerous rate of speed APP |
preaching the bridge, and onto the |
bridge.
We find that the motornian George
Hamilton, was guilty of criminal care
lessness IN 50 running said car. We |
find that on said day said car was in |
good order and running condition.
We find that the Shelton Street Rail-
way company was very negligent in the
following particulars First, in allow
ing an imperfect condition of the road |
bed to exist on Sunday, said 9Th dav
of August. at the southern approach to
the bridge in that the ties were insult
ticiently supported by dirt or other fl
ling, thereby causing a depression when
the car passed the point Second in
that fine order of TIE company as to
speed at this point. and as to the CON
slant allday inspection of the track at
this point, on said day was not enforc-
ed
In view of the foregoing, we recon-
mend:
First. That all cars be REQUIRED to =
stop before crossing the bridge at Pecks
MILL thirty feet distant from the bridge,
at either end
Second: That all trolley bridges
have inside guard rails, and that the
outside guard rail be not less than
eight inches high and be lined with
ron
Third: That no man he allowed to
let as motorman for trolley car until
lie shall have qualified before some
Competent beard of examiners, and be
licensed therefor.
Fourth: We recommend that fhe
NUMBER or hours of motOrmen and con-
iuctoHs be reduced and that they be al
owed reasonable time for their meals.
flfth: In view of the large increase
n mileage of trolley lines in this state
md probable further increaee, we
ecommend that his excellency the gov !
rnor convene the Legislature at the
arliest possible date, for the purpose of :
reating a commission with ample bow
7, whose duty shall be to supervise
he construction and operation of troll
sy lines The coroner is hereby request
d to communicate with the governo,
nd TO transmit to him a COPY of this
erdct and finding
'OPY OF FINDING SENT TO THE
GOVERNOR.
Coroner Doten this afternoon forward
d a copy Of the finding to Governor
-ounsbury