New-York tribune., 1907-08-03
HEAVY BAIL FOR MCREA
General Manager of L. I. r. r.
arrested on UaTant.

James A NcCrea. general manager OF the Long
Island Railroad and a son of James McCrea' pres
ident of the Pennsylvania Railroad. was heId yes
terlay in $40 900 bail by Coroner A. s Amber on
a warrant charging him with criminal negligence
regarding the deaths of DR.. Edward J. Gallagher
and Miss Helen IIadigan. who were run down and
killed by the Anagansett express at St Adams on
the night of July Il while returning from an auto
mobile trip through Long Island Court was opened
in Mr. Mcreas private Office in the railroad station
in Long Island City. Mr.. McCrea, accompanied by
p H Woodward secretary 10 President Ralph
Peters; Robert Z. Kirkman, chief OF the railroad
detective force and his own private stenographer
We're present
At the end of the inauest at Jamaica into the
deaths of Dr. Gallagher and Miss Madigan Coroner
Amber announced Thursday that ne would
issue warrants for the arrest Of both President
Peters and Mr. McCrea. Early yesterday morning
CAPTAIN Patick J. Tracey of the Jamaica precinct.
went TO Long Island City to serve the two war
rants. President Peters was out Of town Mi NC
Crea. however, found in his office and was
technically placed under arrest 1t was arranged
that he should be permitted TO hnlsh ms duties OF
the morning and go 10 Jamaica about o'clock
and appear before the coroner. In the mean time
the coroner decided To go to Long Island city and
hold court there. explaining this action Coroner
Amber said he had business in Long Island city,
and that it better suited his plans To arragn Mr.
McCrea there. Only few minutes were required
for the forrnality, and Mr.. kirkam was accepted
as bOndsruan
AT the office of President Peters it was said that
that official had been informed a warrant out
for his arrest but that he would make state
at the present time in regard to the action or
the Coroner's jury.
Joseph r Keaney. head Of the legal department
Of the road, who present IN Superintendent
SIcCreas office when Coroner Amber called 10 ar
that official. expressed himself as dunfounded
that the jury should take such action considering
tho purport of the testimony given before it, i
have doubt" said Mr.. Keaney, that all Mr.
Peters thinks about the matter could be compressed
into a single sentence similar to my own
Another official of the road also said the jury 5
action inexpicabIe TO him. But, them" he
corrected. you never can tell what a cOroneT's
jury will do. and it IS fashionable nowadays to
ceedings have been heard OF before. but the re
ports all cases Of similar character contained
in the lawbocks show that the courts have time
AMI again held that the chief officials cannot pos
siby be held culpable OF wilful negligence"
This official said that, whatever court action
might be taken he looked for a similar decision
TO that given in the Of the officials OF the Pub
lie Service Corporation Of New Jersey, who were
indicted for criminal negligence and manslaUghter
following the accident in Clifton avenue, Newark,
several years In that accident a trolley car
crowded with school children, dashed down a steep
grade into passing train on the Lackawanna Rail-
road Though there were gates at the crossing,
they not in place when the collision occurred
only two weeks ago President Peters made Il
personally conducted test to II the bells the
crossings the Long Island Railroad could be
heard by automobile approaching at high speed
In n powerful machine, driven twenty miles an
hour. Of his party could hear the slightest
sound from the bell although those present at the
test crossing heard It cIang clearly for several
equip every grade crossing on the railroad with
two faSrnen the motorists suggest would take
90 men, al $50 month. cost Of S60loco a year 70
the railroad.