New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-04
ACQUITTAL STIRS NEWARK
TROLLEY OFFICERS FREE.
Parents of Victims Threaten to Re
open Case.


With decisions remarkably unanimous. Chief
Justice Gummere Justice Van Syckel and Jus
tice Dixon. sitting in the Circuit Court at New
ark yesterday. ordered the discharge of the
eleven prisoners charged with granddaughter in
connection with the Clifton-ave trolley disaster.
With smiling faces-their first genuine smiles
since the trial began Monday-th wealthy
trolley men filed slowly from the courtroom.
shaking hands with the prosecutor and thanking
him for the "dignifed and conservative way in
which he had conducted the case" Last night
the parents of the victims Of the dreadful col
lision were inveighing alike against State and
court. while Newark people of every condition
were bitterly denouncing the case as corpora
ton ridden law" and wondering where the
power Of the trusts would end
farce" J. Roosevelt Stanley called the
trial. and "a farce" most Of the people Of New
ark agree. The air is filled with criticism rash
and hotheaded. but Enthusiastically showing the
popular Indignation what they call the
'travesty-" That the decision could hardly
have been different in accordance with the tes-
timony brought out at the trial. the more rea-
sonab ones concede. but. they all ask why
was so much shown AT the coroner's inquest and
before the grand jury which was not touched on
there? Why was it not shown that the danger
OF the CliftoL-ave. crossing had heen the sub
Beard Of Works: Why was IL not made plain
that the executive committee of the trolley
comp any. without whose consent alteration
Of the system could be made. must have known
OF The danger there when the question Of the
derailng switch came before them? Why did
not the Prosecutor make the company's ex-
pert, Mr. Remer i'm his testimony say that the
dersiling switch had not been put in because of
the expense, as came out before the grand jury.
TO BECOME POLITICAL ISSUE.
II that decision was I'm accordance with the
law good say the thinking people of Newark;
but next winter we will have law which will
prevent any such things happening again. So
deeply has this question stirred that city that
IL is likely 10 become an active political issue
After the accident last February bill was in
troduced into the legislature to relieve the Cliff
ton-ave. situation and similar grade crossings.
II never came out of committee. According to
the City Counsel Henry Youngs the Board Of
Public Works is powerless to DO anything TO
better conditions. This must not continue. say
the Newark people.
After the decision Of the justices yesterday
the prosecutor declared:
We presented all he facts to the jury, but
the court did not agree with us as TO the ap
plication of the law in this case. The grand
jury indicted the men st thought guilty; what
more is there 10 dor
That is precisely what the parents of the vic
Tins want to learn. and according TO Henry Ill.
father Of Viola Ill. who was killed, lawyers will
be consulted with view TO reopening the case
and fighting over every inch to get reindict-
ments and a trial wherein the RESPONSE
bility would be fastened on certain persons"
A meeting Of the parents will be called to
confer the plan OF operations.
FATHER OF TROLLEY VICTIM TALKS.
I'm certainly not satisfied with that decision"
said Mr.. Iii. Il don't want 10 say anything
about the justice. and l suppose the prosecutor
couldn't do any more but it seems to me the
responsibility for that accident ought to be fixed
in some way. We we're all disappointed when
the prosecutor refused TO let obtain associate
counsel for him. I don't know what more there
is to do about this. but I'm going TO consult my
attorneys and see the other parents. and will
leave nothing undone to have the responsibility
fixed where il belongs"
Who wss kd Th he WRECK e M la
shouldn't Ike to say all tn think about that de-
S6S5 BE- s enf of e p Snk bnHHe a
the trial was mockery. and that justice has been
walk OF with all the funds. after, they had been
Ssla Tesponsbie take IT, must I'm angPy
and hurt at his mscsTriase but don't know why
The Pennsylvania for years while ETH, the prosecutor
cially with all the trolley people. don't know
that Il would be OF any 10 take the up
again II would only meet the fate But YOU
may depend II that the Ncwarkers won't forget
this. and they will watch for their chance 10 pa
of ali old scores when they come 20 settle UP with
the corporations
COURT PROCEEDINGS SHORT.
The actual court proceedings we're over in an
hour yesterday. As the acquitted trolley men
slowly left the courtroom. shaking hands right
and left, they all stopped for moment TO thank
the Prosecutor. You did the best you could.
Mr.. Riker" said John n. Crimmns. but you
had a losing case"
You did well. Shan" remarked Leslie D.
Ward. his hand on the Prosecutors shoulder
but the facts we're against YOU"
Thank you" murmured J. Roosevelt Shanlsv
he passed. Such cordial relations between
prisoners and prosecutor seem not the least re-
markable feature Of this remarkable case
Tense and expectant the expression of the