New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
DAVIS GETS THE BLAME.
MUCH H4MPERED HIN.
Road Not C1iminaly Responsible
State Commission Urged.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
Plainfeld n. j., Feb. Thames N. Davis, the
engineer was to blame for the Westfield disaster
on the Jersey Central Railroad on January 20
but there were mitigating circumstances That
is the substance of the verdict brought in this
afternoon by the coroner's jury which mas peeh
investigating the causes of the wreck Besides
fixing the responsibility, the jury makes certain
suggestions and in particular recommends that
the State legislature provide for a State Rail-
road Commission as suggested by The Tribune
Immediately after the accident
For nearly two weeks the jury has been look
ing into the evidence brought before 1t by
County Prosecutor n. C. j. English, Of Union
County The last of the evidence was heard
yesterday afternoon, and the jury worked nearly
all night preparing the report Another session
was held this morning. The jury convened again
this afternoon at 3:15 o'clock, when Coroner P
Dubois Bunting was present. The verdict was
then signed and made public
It's complete text is as follows
State of New-Jersey County OF Union,-An inqui-
in the County aforesad the 3d. 5th 6th and 18th
days of February In tne year e OF or our @ o4e
Dubois Bunting one Of the eoT0her % rd OF said t
Fisk, William F. Arnold. Floyd T. woodruff James
F. Buckle. John J. Kenney and Andrew j. Gavett.
good and lawful men OF the county aforesaid who.
being duly Sworn and % sS wen 0
how and after what the said John Currid
% tSa to his t6 deash sad dg oh cTrd killed by
railroad collision oeeTTGag qh e IN d Ia,o on
" on the twenty-seventh day of January, 1903;
that at the time he was Killed as i aIoresd, ne was as
nIRneIienl in train No. 13 which is known the
Was rum iiG Hto from the rear BY train No s which
the fast express tram run % oy tne IN % %
aI ag Rsiroad of NewJersey The collision occurred
at about $40 Os9e b st. we beeve Ine tst t
cosinn Was ca used by the failure of the engineer
sa@es saad By " tRs Phadeha and Reading Railroad
ni"s dissnIa1ed to warn him of approaching danger:
nj First9The red lamp set on the ground at Gram
1Isa condThe wdG distance eautionary block signal
which gave warning that the block ahead was oc-
red ansgn at Oase aSe fnS f1h eHos
ing Westfeld S74 feet from the last mentioned
olScK Gonrfha red lantern swung by the brake
man of Train No R CnlS man ma ib claims aims snas ne
whsn train No 62I passed hm) And finally the
r home 9loGe 9nSlcated that he must come 10 full Stop
as the track ahead was occupied This signal IS
though from the evidence, we cannot md that the
railroad or abE Oi here ne s9e ean
eating circumstances in regard to the action OF the
sqglnsGdd % ad James n Davis who has since died from
Injuries received in this accident was thrty-four
fhe most experienced and valued engineers the
road
on the run from Philadelphia In the morning
with train No. 6l4 his own engine No. 32i. became
disabled and he was obliged TO leave IL at Trenton
function and take engine No q. from local
milk train. to bring his train 10 Jersey CITY. Al,
though this engine appears TO have been In good
condition on January q. 1903, an examination OF
the work books OF the company shows that IL was
in the shop between January and IL. 1s03 for the
repair OF a crack In the steam chest and ior
various minor repairs. That after leaving the
shoD the engine was reported for repairs piston
packing etc. several times, and although there
is no report against the engine in regard 20 leak
ing steam after January % there is no doubt that