The evening world., 1903-04-22
,Ssfense Committee, Organized
In New Rochelle to Aid Those
Hurt In the Tunnel, Completes
Its Work and Disbands.
CENTRAL PAYS MANY CLAIMS
verdicts by Jurles Amount to
100000, and az Much More Has
Been Given by Settlements
Through the Defense Committee.

Almost half a million dollars has been
recovered by the victims OF the tunnel
wreck up to date from the railroads
through the courts, and sufficient has
been paid without a trial to bring the
amount UP to more than $1,000, 900 in
this work of recovery for damages the
work Of one organization has been com
pleted n its affairs have been wound
up. This, the Defense Committee, OF
New Rochelle.
A few days after the wreck and when
the railroad agents were going about
with releases pressing persons to take a
Few hundre dollars. and give the com
pany a release On full for all damages,
tie citizens of New Rochelle held a
mass meeting, and the Defense Com
mittee was formed. A man not noted
particularly for his business ability
was the suggester, August Thomas,
me playwright. one OF the speakers al
the meeuns served an apprenticeship on
ployed to make a settlement with the
injured. He suggested that a Defense
committee be formed to raise money to
advance to the injured.
Loans to the Needy.
This money he proposed should be
loaned without interest so that any OF
the injured needing immediate relief
might have 1t. and thus be free to make
q settlement with the company at their
leisure and not be pushed for ready
aities or MOUSE rent or q OF the neces-
cases had been settled to the best In
terests OF the claimants.
the author headed the list with q
SUBSCRIPTION In the hundreds and others
followed. Before the meeting adorned
Mr., Thomas, Geo. I. Roberts and Mott
Emigh had been appointed a committee
to see that the injured got all that was
until the committee quietly told many
they had all the money they needed.
From that time on the railroad com
PSny maze 70 move that the Defense
needed money he got it. Last weoH
me defense fund was returned to the
subscribers. 1t was loaned several
help.
Nj. Roberts. the Secretary, who is in
business at Fourth avenue and Thirty.
second street, this city, said to-day:
ment on subscriptions, n that was
enough. The names OF persons we
helped of course are not public property.
Ihey would not Like 4 said they got 80
made better terms with the company,
offered One Man $500.
'Tn one case the company offered the
man $500. He didn't sign, but he needed
money. We financed him and rather
than go to court the company paid him
every one to whom the committee ad-
vanced money, there We're man
the return was made promptly. In n
Ease where a large verdict was re-
turned the man who thought TO be
well to do was not well off. We H.
nanced him, and although he had
been tempted 20 settle because he
needed ready money to pay hospital
and other actual expenses, he re-
ceived a little more than $4,000.
Last week the committee reported to
the Mayor ana sent to all the sub
scrfhers the money they had paid in less
six per cent. This was for expenses.
ut was not the amount we had. but
what we could have obtained to see the
tunnel victims or their relatives. get
Justice. 1t was the moral effect OF the
thing that brought the corporation to
time. A railroad man said to me last
night. when the latest verdict was an,
nounced: you seemed to have a lot
OF money up there l said, 1t wasn't
what we had. but what we could get.
and that is all there was to It,"