Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-24
VERDICT OF NOT
GUILTY DIRECTED
BY THE JUDGE
Motorman on Trial for Causing
Death of William Duffy Is
Freed of Charge.

A verdict of not guilty was directed
his afternoon by Judge Ten Eyck in
the case of William H. Jacobus, the
Public Service motorman, who was
placed on trial today charged with
manslaughter. The case came up in
the Court of Oyer and Terminer and
Jacobus was accused of having caused
the death of William H. Duffy. sr., 81
years old, who lived on Burnet avenue.
Hilton.
h accident occurred February is
last, when Duffy, who was a milkman,
was struck by a Springfield avenue car
on that avenue near the corner of
Florence street. His son, William H.
Duffy, jr. 25 years of age, was an eye
witness of the accident which ended his
fathers life a few moments later at the
office Of DR.. Albion c.. 'ristian. in
Clinton avenue.
Duffy had just delivered milk to the
residence of Dayton Meeker, 1888
Springfield avenue, and had started
back across the street to regain his
son. who was waiting with the wagon
on the north side, as the street car in
charge of Jacobus came into view g
the hill at Florence street ard Spring
field avenue 1t had been raining and
sleeting all night n the streets and
tracks We're very slippery.
AS Duffy started to cross the track
he fell, and before he could rise or
Jacobus stop the car he was struck
and rolled under the fender n so
badly injured that he lived lut q few
minutes.
1t tool only twenty minutes ~ secure
a jury, the State CHALLENGING four and
the defense seven men before the jury
box was filed.
County Physician William II Nc
Kenzie was the first witness and told
of the injuries that caused Duffy'5
death.
He was succeeded on the stand tv Il /,
son. who told the story Of the acciden
Under cross-examination ly eX-Ihdg,
Chauncey H Beasley, who !s conduct
ing the case on behalf of Jacoi us an |
the Public Service Railway Company.
Duffy admitted that his fsther had a.
defect in his left eye, and that his hear
ing had also been affected for several
years.
TIE son stated, however, that his
father had seer entirely cured of his
deafness sometime before the accident
occurred. Duffy also testified that he
bought the car was going at a speed of
eight or nine miles ar hour when 1t
| struck his father.
Richard Devald, the next witness
called, who was a passenger on the car,
gave, as his opinion. that the car was
going. about twenty miles an hour at
the time of the accident.
Assistant Prosecutor Andrew van
Blarcom handled the case for the state.
Defendant Tells story.
Jacobus was the first witness called
by Judge Beasley after he had outlined
his defense. The motorman told the
Jury that his car was running about
| eight or nine miles an hour when 1t
struck Duffy.
ut was very dark that morning he
testified, land l did not see Duffy until
the homer I struck him. In fact, l
did not know what 1 had hit until l
got out of. the car and found a man
all tangled up in the fender"
Jacobus swore he managed to stop
his car within two car lengths after he
struck Duffy.
Supervisor John F.. Sparrow, of the
Springfield avenue line. was the last
witness called before the noon recess.
He stated that the running time on
the Springfield nj line called for
by the schedule of the company was a
tractor over eight miles an hour.