The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-08-22
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Coroner's Inquest.

ing jury to inquire into the death of
Thomas Lucas: ]. Fred Laumaster, W.
Burtis Pew, NJ. L. Throckmorton, Fred
G. Parker, William Sine and B. f. Dill
The proceedings we're held in the Court
House at 10 O'Clock.
Wins Russell was the first to give i'm
portant testimony. He was the conductor
on the last car going to the barn at Haines-
port on Sunday morning, August 49, He
carried Lucas to the end of the trip
When he got on the car at Mill street
Mount Holly, Lucas was intoxicated, but
seemed to know what he was talking
about. Lucas said he wanted to go Rance
cas- Park to see the dance. Russell explain
ed to him that the car only went as far as
Hainesport, and that there was no dane
ing at that late hour at the park. No
disturbance was made, and Russell col
lected fare from Lucas after the car had
turned into Washington street. This was
done so that he could be put off before
leaving Madison avenue in case the man
changed his mind after what had been
told him. The motorman told Lucas that
the park was closed. Russell tried to
persuade Lucas that he did not want to
go the park, and asked him to take seat
in the car and go back home on the next
car up. but this invitation was declined.
Il know what l am doing, said Lucas,
land want to go down and see the
dance. As he started to walk to the
park on the trolley track, Russell told him
to get over on the wagon road
To W. H. Dunphey, the motorman with
Russell, Lucas asked; "What place is
this \" 'The Hainesport trolley house."
came the answer This car don't go any
further" said the motorman. "But want
to go to Rancocas Park, . insisted Lucas,
and he was told that he would have to
walk the remainder of the distance Lucas
was intoxicated but he did not stagger.
Boarding the down car at the Arcade
Hotel, Joseph Buck saw Lucas sitting on
the inside, He knew he had been drink
ing, but he was not noisy. Before Buck
got off at Rose street. Lucas paid his fare.
William II. Briggs was the motorman
on the last car up from the park on the
fatal night in question About LAO
o'clock he came in contact with a form
lying on the track, about in the centre of
the rails. The headlight was apparently
working all right when he left the park
1t don't show as brightly when climbing
hill as when on the level, as it fiickers
some. He was so close to Lucas before
he saw him, that he could not describe the
distance. He did all in his power to stop
the car, which at that time was the only
thing on his mind. He had no time to
think who or what it was on the track,
and he realized that the only thing to do
was to stop the car as quick as possible
He ventured to say that the car was
brought to a standstill as quickly as any
car could be stopped.
Harry West, conductor, was standing
on the front platform with Briggs, look
ing ahead. All at once he saw a man
lying feet forward between the track.
He told Briggs, who reversed the power
and both saw the object at about the same
time. The sudden stopping of the car
threw West, and he had to catch himself.
The latter said that Briggs did all man
could do to avert the accident. The light
does not show as far ahead when going up
a hill. The body was about half a car
length ahead when he saw it. West had
a chance to see Lucas, just as he was
passing under the fender. The wheels
did not touch him, and he was probably
lying in the centre of the track.
John B. Dobbins was a passenger on
the car, and the first intimation he had of
trouble was when the car came to a sud-
den stop. 1t almost landed him out of his
seat on to his feet Briggs said; Il think
have struck man."
Sudden stopping of the car was the first
intimation that John A. Griefsu, the con-
ductor, had that all was not right.
The car was behind time, and he could
not tell at what speed they were run
ming. The motorman was using nine
points while going up the hill, which is
the full limit At the time of the
accident Griefsu was watching the
pole, and he was thrown one foot into the
smoking compartment of the car. Upon
making inquiry as to the trouble, Briggs
said: John, l think | have struck a
man" John M. Smith, boss al the car
l.. ,1I
Superintendent Gilbert were sent for.
One passenger measured the distance, and
it was found that the car had stopped
within space of two feet after strik-
ing the body Only the gearing of the
front axle passed over the remains. After
the power was reversed and the air APP.
piled to the brakes, the car moved only
about nine feet
Albert H. Lear, passenger, was not
ioted as he had his feet braced. He
heard Briggs say there was man under
the car. Lear got out and saw Lucas
The front truck was resting on his body
Charles Fitzgerald was thrown from
his seat and nearly went to the floor
Some one set fire to a newspaper and
Lucas was found lying little in front of
the axle His head was wedged between
the motor box and north wheel Under
the light of night the clothing worn by
Lucas was of color which could not be
discernible at great distance.
Between 10 and II o'clock Charles Still
saw Lucas pretty we'll under the influence
of liquor
Charles Peters was asleep at the time of
the accident, but the manner in which the
car stopped awoke him. He saw the body
under the car W. Hollinshead was also
thrown off his seat.
Harry West was recalled He did not
notice the color of the clothing until he
got out of the car. 1t was nearly the
same color as the ground. Lucas wore
dirty overalls, dark coat aud light hat.
WINS Russell was recalled In answer
to question propounded by NJ. L.
Throckmorton, he said that Lucas was not
in such an intoxicated condition that it
would be against the rules of the company
to permit him to ride on car.
The case was then given to the jury,
and the following verdict was rendered:
1--WE find that Thomas Lucas, on the 18th
day of August 1905, was struck by
trolley car of the Burlington County
Traction Company and killed. We, the
jury, deem it an unavoidable accident"