New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-16
PUTS BLAME ON COASTER
COroner'S Jury Holds Palisades
Park Liable for Accident.
$4,000 BAIL FOR WATCHMAN
Machine Running Since the Day
After the Fatality Is Well
Patronized.


Hackensack. y. J., July l5.-Despite a
mass Of evidence which tended to place
the blame upon Michael Corrado. switch
Waterman and Frank Leclair a motor
man on an aeropiane coaster at the Pal
isades Amusement Park, a coroner's jury
this afternoon held the Park responsible
for the deaths Of Arthur Olson, OF The
Bronx. and Leclair the motorman on
Sunday night. July g The inquest was
held at Fort Lee. by Coroner Charles s.
Robertson and Prosecutor Wendell j.
Wright
Dr. L. j. Helstern. Of CHnSide. one Of
the first physicians 10 reach the injured
after the two cars on the coaster crashed,
killing two and seriously injuring nine
teen, told the jury what Olson had said
while in the North Hudson Hospital just
before ne died.
"Olson said that he and his friend.
George Dilge. had allowed three cars to
pass because they wanted TO get in
front scat" said DR.. Hellstern. The
young man said that when the car
reached the top OF the coaster they were
stopped by the block signal The switch
man picked up womans hat from the
track The motorman said something TO
the switchman about the red light and
then the switchman stopped over. opened
a box, pulled a lever and the rcd Hight
turned TO white, allowing the car to go
on"
Charles Tuite councilman. OF Edge
water, whose wife was injured In the
crash. testified that he and Mrs. Tuite
were I'm the same car with Olson. and MS
testimony corroborated what DR.. Hell
stern had testified to.
Bernard Cohen. who was the motor
man Of the car that was stalled In the
bie din testified that the block signal was
I'm working order when he passed il. The
witness said he was rocking in the dip
waiting 10 catch his power when the car
following crashed into him
Henry Ullrch. the park electrician eA-
rlained the third rail system to the jury
AND said that the accident was not que
10 any defect Of the coaster. but TO the
Negligence OF the motorman' VINO toiu
the switchman TO throw the lever reieas-
ing the block. and due TO the switchinah'
who had been instructed time and time
again never TO touch the switches
Nicholas NJ. Schenck, general manager
of the amusement park, testified that Cor
RADIO was employed as an extra precau-
ton and 20 increase the safety OF the
patrons Of the giant roller coaster
Two weeks ago ! found Corrado read
ing a paper while on duty. and ] warned
him OF the danger, and he promised 10
never do II again" said Mr. Schenck'
Coroner Robertson called for Corrado'
but Edwin G. Irion. OF Hackensack. VINO
is counsel for Corrado, asked that MS
testimony be not taken. inasmuch as ne
,s now under 5000 bail on charge OF
manslaughter.
This aeroplane coaster with dips deeper
and more acute in angle than any III the
co,ntrv. has been I'm operation since the
dav after the accident and continues 10
be- well patronzed
When a New York lawyer asked MT
ecba,ck by whom he was employed anu
a.ho ,,,ora the real owners OF the amuse-
r,ert mark. ex-senator -. w. Wakeiee.
co,,,seI for Mr.. Schenck, remarked IL
,or renresent any Of the injured ana con-
,,rn,late suits. just see me ana III give
,,a,, III the desired information