New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-02
TROLLEY MEMS TRIAL.
FVTDFNCE FOR PEOPLE.
NAM Witnesses for Prosecution
Heard an Ne7o0rk.

a -eioials tho men % wealth and standing
. .be subordinate employees and the Lacka-
-.rra Railroad was apparently the lire Of de-
80 esonted by the lawyers for the indicted
-, q. the continuation Of the trial AT Newark
,..sts-sav They lost no opportunity 81 pointing
a., .,,at whatever negligence existed was only in
.s,s particular case. and 50 was not a result Of
r,s,-sra cement 81 the trolley system While the
learned counsel could not controvert the testi-
-,oov ~ witnesses as 70 the riding OF people on
80 front platforms Of cars. time after time. so
,tolatine the city ordinances and rendering for
ss- fho company's charter. they strove 20 pal
rs,e 81 bv showing that the greatest care was
,.~-iead by the rnotornen-that the company.
\, other words. violated the statutes as legally
:. ross.b,e-and that so few persons were on
,,,eee 'front.' platforms AT one time that 20 danger
was possible
.rbs-e was also evident a desire 20 shoulder
-. ~ the blame on 10 the railroad company
,..-,,,ss she derauing switch. now in operation.
-. -,sss ~ which every one acknowledged had
80. reer installed wears ago. In this connection.
,,-,t-s- " Ross. general counsel for the Lacka-
-. said last night that the railroads share
=. .t,., transaction had been laid before the cor
80 ,rrv and the grand jury after the acct
A.. and - De added. 4 think they found we
-, su right. or some 81 our officials would
49,. hsev sitting there TODAY with the trolley
people" ,eoe
~. nos this v-av." he went on. In ls9S an
..rer+ Mas made between the two compa-
res that the trolley line should cross our line
q, a. M, De- derauing switch al clifton ave.
This was not done. We wrote to them several
,ip,es finally the material was purchased and
taken 10 the spot but never used. They want
"a 10 connect the switch with our signals. which
our engineers would not allow. as it would have
thrown our our whole system The trolley peo-
rle were stubborn. and there was no switch"
There WAS also an effort yesterday by the de-
fence 10 discredit some Of the testimony because
the witnesses had brought suits for damages
against the trolley company. In two cases eX-
Governor Werts wondered. in sardonic tones. II
the fact of the persons having brought civil
suit had had any eject on his answers.
EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION.
The prosecutors case was exhaustive in de-
tail Carefully he built up his edihce, showing
hv witness after witness that cars on the Cliff
ton-ave lire were overcrowded; that pupils fire.
cuestiv were packed on both platforms. that
no sand or salt had been used on the tracks on
rho morning II the disaster in spite Of their
snow covered oonditio- that this was known
20 at least one ennpiove # the company. because
an outsider had called his attention 70 car
which had slipped on the descent from orange
81 70 the railroad. that the dangerous charac-
ter or tais crossing. with railroad trains con-
f;antly passing. was known 10 the management
end that ONLY q couple ~ months previous 20 the
accident a ar going from the High School tow
ard Orange-st. had crashed through the gates
across the railroad track
He showed that the rnotorrnan did everything
f1 his power 10 stop the car, and he also
showed that the cornpanv's own rules were VIC
lated. because the conductor did rot get out 70
look Tor on approaching train. The prosecutor
said Yesterday thar he expected 20 get in all the
testimony for The State to-day and that the
caaa would probably 60 10 the fury about
Friday. Tt is expected that the defence win try
hard 10 quash the indictments
Public interest in the case continues as strong
ns ever The courtroom was filed yesterday. in
spite ~ the early beginning and the testimony
WAS followed with the closest attention OF
especial interest were the stories Of some q the
survivors ~ the accident among them two
toenr girls. The eleven defendants were ranged
IN Tine. ms at The first DAYS session. some list
le's some bored. nevertheless an a trife anx-
lous. u seems a great hardship 70 the seven
directors Thar thcy should have % attend this
trial. ogt they appear uuwillinglv.
james KAY. the letter carrier who was m the
stand when The trial was adjourred On Monday
was The first witness YESTERDAY. Under cross
examination by Ex-Governor We-ts he told ~
mo moformar's efforts 10 stop the car. ans de-
s''i'Hd me collision. rorting OUT the locsIi,ies
on me large map which hangs babin5 rpe,too
GUNNER
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