Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-17
the TUNNEL INQUEST.
Attorney Jerome Cautions Iur Not to Allow
Public clamor to Interfere With Duty.

New York Jan. 1.-THE coroner's in
quest to determine the responsibility
for the death Of II persons in the New
York Central tunnel. last week was
begun. today. Coroner Scholer presid-
ed. Among the attorneys present at
the opening Of the inquiry We're Dis
trict Attorney Jerome. his assistants.
Rand and Stuben; Frank Moss and Os-
car Campbell. counsel for John NJ. Wis
kcr the engineer: G. G. Paulding, rep
resenting the New York Central Rail-
road. and James Lindsey Gordon and
Lincoln G. Backus who appeared for
the Board of Trade of New Rochelle,
" here all but one of the victims Of the
wreck had their homes.
District Attorney Jerome addressed
fhc jury. He said that it was their
duty TO say whether or not the victims
of the wreck came to their death
through the criminal negligence of
some person or persons.
This is your province" he added.
and if you so beyond it you yield.
perhaps, to public clamor and you do
not thereby aid the cause of justice.
l am not seeking to narrow the field of
your inquisition. but however great the
amount of public sentiment at present
which demands that broad and radical
action should be taken at this time, l
must point out to You that on me and
on the grand jury OF this county de-
wolves the duty of taking such action.
1t is no little thing that the life of 16
persons should be snuffed out in a mo-
ment as a candle, when they We're on
their way to their daily occupations,
and it is thing that calls for such
radical action as shall prevent such
disasters in the future, but it is for
me and the magistrates and the grand
jury to take such action
District Attorney Jerome and Coro-
ner Scholer differed as to the advisa-
bility of calling certain residents of
New Rochelle rs witnesses. The core
ner decided to call them. whereupon
Nh. Jerome and his assistants with
drew. Pursue your own course. Mr..
Coroner, said Mr. jerome, and when
you need US YOU can call u.s."
There was no serious difference.
however. between the district attorney
and the coroner. and Mr.. Jerome took
part in the proceedings Of the after
noon. During this session William T.
Devine, who was passenger on the
Ne" Rochelle 'aiIr. testified that the
train had been anding still for about
minute bel ore he collision. Police
man Patrick p. Fox said he asked
Wisker. engineer N the White Plains
train, WI at had caused the accident,
and that Visker replied: There was
train passing and the smoke and
steam shut off the signals
Joseph H. Franklin, manager of the
Grand Central depot. was on the stand
and the district attorney questioned
him. He went into the details of the
handling of trains and the system Of
signals in the tunnel. He admitted
hat he had received many complaints
from trainmen regarding the signal
lights in the tunnel. These men had
called his attention to the fact that on
foggy days the lights could be seen
only a very short distance.
so especially during the winter
months in New York" District Attor-
rey Jerome asked. there are many
days on which the signals in the tun-
mel can be seen only very short dis
tance?"
witness aumltteu tndt THIS was the
case. On the day of the wreck. how
ever, he said, he considered that con-
ditions We're very favorable. He said
that 1913 scheduled trains ran through
the tunnel every day.
Mr.. Franklin said he was under the
orders of President Newman of the
Central and President Hall of the New
Haven Road. He said he had spoken
to them about the tunnel lights when
they had taken him to task about the
trains being late He said that moth
ing in particular had been done about
the complaints Of the engineers con-
corning the lights.
In answer to question from Mr..
Jerome. Manager Franklin admitted
that the murky morning on which the
disaster occurred was the first time
Engineer Wisker had taken passen-
ger train through the tunnel
Counsel for John NJ. Wisker. engineer
Of the train which caused the accident.
asked to put some question to Mr..
Franklin. but the district attorney OBJ
jected and the coroner sustained the
objection. Adjournment was then had
until tomorrow.