The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-28
DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL
Verdict of Coroner's Jury in the Case
of William o'Connor of Dunmore,
Who Was Killed at Crossing.

Coroner j. j. Roberts conducted an
inquest in the arbitrat ation room of the
court house, last night. in the ease
of William O'COnnor, the Dunmore
tcamster who was killed at the Bun
ker Hin crossing ~ the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western railroad on
Saturday Feb. ., while driving
wagon belonging to the Atlantic Re-
hning company. \ New York bound
passenger train struck the team about
! o'clock in tn" afternoon. killing one
of the horses and running the wagon.
The coroner's jury consised of Will
liam Hughes. A. T.. Baldwin, David
Edwards. Luther Lewis. Richard Da-
Wis and Leon Levy. brought in the
following verdict:
we the undersigned jurors. fiud
that the said William OConnor cam,
to his death by being struck by an
engine. We regard his death as acct
dental and cannot place the rcspon-
sibilty for the same upon any per-
SON.
Attorney W. W. Watson was pres
ont in the interests of the Atlantic
Refining company.
Lyman $. Chase. engineer Of the
I.ithdNdUnd tIdln WHICH Stlu'h
O'ConnOr'S team. was the first Wit
ness called. He testified that on sat
urday. Feb. 9. tho date Of the acoi-
dent. his train vas running at the
rate of about thirty-tive 10 forty miles
an hour. At the point whore the col
lision happened, il was impossible for
him TO see more than three car lengths
away.
When h. saw the team on the tracks
he tried to stop the engine by putting
on the brakes, and also sounded his
warming bell. but was totally unable
to prevent the collision. The flag
mans shanty at the crossing was de-
stroyed by the shock, the nagman
not being IL /, when the train struck.
Noble Johnson. the fireman on the
train. was then put on the stand He
was not in position to see anything
of the accident, ana testified accord
ingly.
Andrew Wilson. Of Dunmore. who
lives near the crossing. testified To sea-
ing O'connorS wagon come down the
hill toward the crossing. the grade he
ing in a very icy and slippery cOndi-
tion. He saw no watChman al the
shanty when tho accident occurred
but later on perceived him in the
crowd that gathered.
Miss Lizzie Wilson. the next Wit
ness, saw tho team going down tho
hill on trot She saw a nagman
about during the morning. but not al
the time of the accident. she could
hear tho rumble Of tn" coming train.
and at the tim" declared 70 rer no1 nor
that the driver was running a big
risk in coming down hill at that in
stant.
testified that he saw q fagman at tho
tim" in question. motinning he team
sier coming down IN" hill to stop. lie
heard M lell nor whistle. on cross
examination by Mr.. Watson the wit
ness declared that tn" regular flag
man was absent, aud the man at the
CROSSING was a stranger TO him.
u. l.. casey, who was next put on
the stand was in the smoker Of the
train on the day Of The accident. Iic
heard no whistle or bell before the
team was struck hy the engine.
Michael DinnucE, the nagman. was
NOT present when his name vas called.
Iie was in" man temporarily in charge
al the crossing.
Coroner Roberts Inquired whether
anyone desired another hearing, in or
dor 70 obtain Dinnock's testimony, hut
everyone appearing satisfied with the
evidence already heard, he gave the
case to the jury,