New-York tribune., 1903-03-03
NAVY sHIIRKEI,.
PREc4U7IoNSNo KEN
Danger of MeroaE' Crossing KnOw"
Z. -s. Blame sSoa.e Oae Else. +"

The first witness caAes at the inquest in
]. NewarF yesterday into the tragedy at the C1if-
ton-aye grade crossing. February 10, was VIII
liam II. Merton, president OF the Newark Police
BoarG. He was examined assto the responsible
fly for the enforcement or the ordinances. He
explained shat he had not been long in Office, had
beer I'll much % the time. and had attended
y only ono meeting of the board eff eight hun
dred children have to cross a dangerous place
within twenty minutes would not the chief or
police have the authority to place man on duty
at thai spot2" asked Foreman Coe. He would.
Mr.. Morton replied.
Q.-The chief OF police has testified here that
he had no such authority A-fIe could place an
officer.
o.-The chici said something about the force
being too small, Is hat true? Ats per
o-Ycu couldn't spare couple of men for
couple OF houTsc A--Not very we'll
President Garrison Of the Board OF Works tes
titled that he had passed the Broad-st- crossing
Of the Lsckawanna Railroad frequently. He
thought the trains were at from thirty to
forty miles an hour Asked what the Board II
Works had done 10 enforce the ordinances, Mr..
Garrison said the board had believed the legis-
lative act of 1864 gave railroads the right to
run their trains at any speed they chose. pro-
,-ided the requirements for the protection OF the
public were observed II had been arranged
that the tracks at Ciifton-ave should be de-
pressed az soon as the Morris Caral was aban-
doned. The witness knew of no ordinance Tor
bidding the overcrowding of streetcars he
could not remember any ordinance forolooihs
the carrying Of passengers on front platforms.
Prosecutor Riker asked the witness II any re-
quest had been made to the board Tor better
4rolIey service for the High School He replied
that Principal Stearns had made q request the
witness saw Mr. Young, the general manager
nd latter
MI. in q switch at the High School, proVlued ne
. could obtain the consent of property owners.
o-Do yor know il any attempt was MADE TO
get this consent? Al understand that tnere
was, and that it was refused .,.,. .rs 10
O-Hss the company complied with tne IT,
Quest for more High School cars? A.-Persona4iS'
I can't say.
ATr Garrison said Il was the duty Of the Board
Of Works to pass ordinances. and the Foiice De
partment's duty to enforce them The Board OF
Works had no appropriation for the enforcing
.of ordinances.
o-Isnt it provided in the act that the boaro
shall have power TO enforce? A--fes.
O-Tsn't the General Superintendent OF WORKS
expected under the act to enforce the boards
ordinances? A.-1es.
In reply to a juror the witness said that 1t
had been agreed that the city should take care
of the snow the company had swept on me
tracks.
Q-Has il been the custom of the board TO
o-Whose province is it t%to know? A.-Mr-
Mundy's Cthe street SUPPLEMENTARY
.. And where is he? A--Sick in bed
O-Do YOU consider that that agreement re-
linved the company of responsibility Tor the
care of the snow left on the tracks? Al don't
0."Has the board ever sent bill to the
trolley company for cleaning the snow OH Chf-
ton-aye.? Al don't know.
President Menk of the Board Of Education the
oF &Ie
ous crossing At Clifton-aye. and had not asked
the Police Department to place officer at the
crossing He considered that the duty Of the
Board Of Works.
Superintendent Charles Ketcham Of the Lack
'a--anna Railroad Company testified that he
worked out the schedules Of trains. He did
not know that trains were run through the city
fast from thirty to forty-hve miles an
hour
Odd you know Of the dangerous character
Of the crossing at Clifton-ave? Al look upon
it as an unfortunate place for trolley line;
fortunate. would say. that the city permitted
it, because Of the density Of traffic the rail-
road which passes that point.
Q-Dc you not consider Clifton-ave a hard
crossing 10 guard adequately. Alt requires
very alert and capable gateman.
At this point Walter w. Ross general attor-
ney Of the Lackawanna. said that President
TrUesdale was without any information as to
the Clifton-ave. matter, and, unless the Jury
especially desired IL. he could rot see anything
20 be gained by his appearance as a witness
Mr.. TruesdaIe was in the West.
David Young. yice-president and general man.
ager OF the North Jersey Street Railway Com
pasIy. was the last witness examined He was
first questioned by Prosecutor Riker in regard
10 passengers riding front platforms of troll
ley cars, and he read rule Of the company
forbiddins the practice.
Off motOrnan finds a car is slipping, it
IS. you say. the rule that he shall notify the
oial report to the condition of the rail He
must see that they have clean rails.
Asked IL he did not regard the Clifton-aye
crossing as a dangerous one, Mr.. Young said
he did. because Of the speed Of the railroad
trains and the natural conditions Of the avenue
at that point.
Q.-Have you ever heard Of cars going through
10? A.-No
Q.-Then no report reached you of a runaway
car going through six months ago? A-None
did, though II ought to have.
What precautions has your company taken
at CIifton-sve.?'
The witness explained the instructions given
80 the company employees about what was to be
done at grade crossings. He explained the con-
tract with the former Morris and Essex SUPER
q irteEdent, Andrew Reasoner, in 1885, to place
derailfng switch with electric connection with
ine LackawannE danger signal sign, and said
the Lackawanna had failed TO comply with
the -~ntract. Mr. Young said that there was a
ysrdman who was supposed to look after sand
in car boxes. but it was the duty Of every mo-
tor ian TO know that his box was filed before
he started out.
o-There is evidence before the grand jury
that the inspector at CIifton-ave. has not obeyed
the rules I'm regard TO overcrewding platforms