The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-02-06
POWDER EXPERTS TESTIFY,
Some Famous Men are witnesses In
the Jacob III. While Case in the
Supreme Court.

Supreme Court opened promptly at
ten o'clock Monday morning for the
weeks work and Justice Garretson took
up the case of Martin Cook. administrat-
or of Jacob H. Wyble. deceased, against
the American II. G." and Shuttle Gun
powder Company.
Much interest is manifested in the cas- g
and the court room has been we'll filled
with spectators at each days trial. This
cause was tried last term hut resulted in
disagreement of the jury. and, al
though the same line of examination is
being conducted as in the trial before.
new and interesting testimony has been
brought out
The point at issue is as to whether the
Power Company is guilty of negligence
for the death of Jacob N. Wyble, who
was but IA years old. and employed by it
in their work at Oakland He was killed
by an explosion on September 10 1901.
in the sample room of the company s
factory.
1t is alleged that the company was
careless in allowing the boys to work in
this room as it should have been known
that there was danger of an explosion
either by decomposition of the powder
or by detonation
The manager, it is said. told the bows
there was no danger of any combustion,
and in two days after this assurance, the
explosion took place.
Many gunpowder experts have been
produced in behalf of the company to
show that under conditions stated there
could not have been an explosion, that
every percaution known to gunpowder
experts was used. The boys it is testified
to. were handling the smokeless powder
which is non-explosive, except when
egnited by fire or by percussion cap or
electricity, and it was the opinion of the
experts that the explosion must have
been caused by an electric current from
the sky.
Hudson Maxim, the inventor of the
the first smokeless power, which was
accepted by the United States Govern
ment, was a prominent witness He
said he had visited the company &
factory at Oakland several months
before the disaster and had also used
some of the ''E. G. and Shuttle smokeless
powder, which he considered OF high
grade. Mr.. Maxim gave an interesting
account of the process used in the
m .nufacture of smokeless powder and
the cause which leads to the combustion
of all powder. He said he could moi
give reason why the explosion took
lsplace unless the powder had come in
contact with unforeseen forces.
Justin Won Longreke, gunpowder
expert from New York, was sworn in
the case, and gave some interesting testi-
m my in manner of explosion. of powder
Capt Albert N Money, General
Manager Of the "E. c. aud Shuttle
Gunpowder Company was the last wit
ness sworn on part of the defendant.
His testimony WAS general
Prominent lawyers are identified with
the case, and the legal battle has been
fought along the most strenuous lines.
For the plaintiff is former Governor
Werts of Jersey City. William l.. McCue
of Butler, and q. Franklin Wilson OF
this city. For the defendant Company
is J w. Dtyoe and Michael Dunn Of
Paterson. and former law Judge Willard
W. Cutler
Tue case closed Wednesday afternoon,
bur arguments were deferred until this
u srnirg Thu case viii PROBABLY ~ q
h. jury this afternoon
Justice tfarrpFt y atinIrped O urt
on Wedns sday until Friday morning.