New-York tribune., 1902-03-04
MINISTERS BACK WISKER
METHODIST PREACHERS MEETING DE
NOUNCES HIS INDICTMENT-HE
PLEADS NOT GUILTY.

The Methodist Preachers Meeting, at No. loo
Fifth-ave.. yesterday adopted resolutions de-
nouHcng the action of the grand jury in indict-
ing John NJ. Wisker the New-York Central en-
gineer, for the tunnel disaster. The resolutions.
which were moved by the Rev DR. ]. Wesley
Johnson. of the John Street Church. declared that
it was the general opinion that the verdict of
the grand jury not calculated to further
the ends of justice or secure to the travelling
public such safety as il had a right to demand;
that the indictment of Wisker was an attempt
70 place responsibility individual, and
absolve a corporation which had been repeatedly
warned of the condition of the tunnel, and that
Wisker is member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and expressed sympathy with him.
They also thanked S. W. Bovine for baIing
Wisker and G. S. Huyer who offered to help
Mr.. BOVINE
In moving the adoption of the resolutions, Dr.
Johnson said that it might perhaps be con-
tempt of court to say that there had been a
miscarriage of justice, and that a great and
powerful corporation had been able TO unduly
influence the action of the machinery of jus
tce, and so he would not say it. He believed
that Methodists should stand by their bro<ler
in distress
The Rev Dr. J. / Boswell protested that the
resolutions ought not to come before the Preach
ers' Meeting at all. 1t was a private meeting
and it could not properly go into the considera-
ton of such cases that before them. he con-
tended General principles affecting the public
welfare they might discuss. but they had no
means of knowing the facts bout particular
cases. He did not know what testimony had
been heard by the grand jury. and so he could
not vote for the resolutions.
Wisker appeared before Judge Mcmahon, in
Part l, General Sessions. yesterday and pleaded
to the indictment for mansldughter in the sec
oad degree. returned by the grand jury. hr
was accompanied by one of his counsel, Frank
Moss. His other counsel. Oscar a Campbell
was in court. Wisker's name had been called
earlier in the morning, but the engineer de-
layed in New-Jersey. where he had been visiting
his mother, who is dangerously i'll.
When the charge was read and Wisker was
asked what he pleaded. before Mr. Moss could
stop him. the engineer said in a loud voice, Not
guilty Mr.. Moss made a motion for delay
urging that the indictment had not got in his
hands until last Saturday. and that he had not
had time TO examine it.
You may plead now" said the court, with
the privilege. under the circumstances. of with
drawing or amending your plea afterward.'
Then We plead not guilty" said counsel
Judge McMahon adjourned the case for
week. Mr.. Moss said that he probably would
make motion for an inspection OF the minutes
Of the grand jury He said that although some
twenty-five witnesses were examined by that
body. there were several important witnesses
who could have given testimony 70 conditions
called, ne understood In particular Mr.. Moss
mentioned an engineer Of the Long Island Rail-
road Company. who testified before the state
Railroad Commission. giving damaging evidence
as 70 the condition Of the tunnel, who was not
He'd.
Mr. Moss said that not one member If the
coroner's jury which had heard the case had
been called He contanded that as the grand
jury did not visit the tunnel IT was not cog
infant ~ conditions there. and that the Coro-
ner's jury. on the other hand. did visit the tun-
mel and had returned the verdict it did mainly
on ITS own observations Continuing, he said:
In fact an assistant district attorney told
me that. no matter what verdict the coroner :
jury returned the engineer would ne indicted 90
When District Attorney Jerome's attention
was called 70 Mr. Moss 8 statement he said.
Mr. Moss | think. is in error Both Of the
engineers called : witnesses before the Coro-
ner's jury agreed that the signal system OF the
Central road was good as could he"
He stated positively that he would not make
an application 70 have the case resubnlitted 10
a grand jury He said.
There's nothing in nv possession now that
would he any stronger evidence. am una BILE 70
say what lines I could make an inVestiEatiOn
and additional evidence