New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-14
INTERBOROUGH MEN
GIVE CORONER BOND
Continued from page

blowout 1t was our understanding
that the third rail was dead after the
blowout Was it?"
at was not" said the witness.
Lets get that clear" said the
chairman. "If all these people went
out of the trains along the track with
the current on the third rail, were not
their lives imperlledo'
That's exactly what happened IN
terposed Mr.. Quackenbush. There
were hundreds of persons on the track
going from station TO station. Not
single person was burned or bruised
or injured. except the one woman, who,
we regret. was sufTocated. ! want to
rake il clear that this sO-called dan
ger IS not real danger
assuming" said the chairman, that
the third rail is alive, would you re-
gard il as safe TO allow a carload OF
passengers TO get out on the roadbed
and walk to eXits?'
"Under certain conditions under
the conditions that existed yes. Thou
sands did so"
as the third rail in the subway COW
cred p" asked Commissioner Williams.
Certainly" eaid the witness, who
explained that unless a person took the
trouble 20 put hand or foot under the
covering there was no danger. In the
event Of water being turned into the
subway. several inches Of 1t would be
necessary 10 make the rail dangerous
TO pedestrians who kept I'M the middle
Of the track, Us II is elevated
Nr. HoGlcy again surprised the com
mission by saying that not all of the
cables vent out on Wednesday. He
was explaining when Mr.. Quackenbush
asked permission TO confer with the
witness "on another matter
Then Mr.. Hedley explained he had
little more time TO stay before the
board
"If | don't get away SOON he said,
81 expect to be 'pinched' any minute,
if your honor will excuse that EXPIRES
sion. ] am due across the street be
fore the Coroner. That is the circus /
referred 20. ! would not think of re-
ferring to any proceeding before this
body in that way"
Mr. Quackenbush followed with a
declaration Of sincere and distin-
gushed consideration for the commits
sion. and Nr. Iiedley FASTENED TO 1.-The
circus" TO avoid being "pinched.'
II was not even a oue-ring circus,
however. that he found in the Coro-
ner's Office. Mr. Riordan, his clerk,
the agent Of the National Surety Com
rany and lawyers Of the Interborough
were waiting.
Hello" said he to the Coroner, who
came forward smiling as If to greet an
old friend.
"You left yourself out Of the case
when YOU refused TO bail your motor
man." began the Coroner, as if 20 eN-
plain why he had shut the company's
LAWYERS off the afternoon before.
To this Mr.. Hedley made no answer,
and after swearing to his bond left
the office.
Edward J. Berwnd who left the
navy TO make millions in coal and
manufacturing, followed Mr. Hedley 10
the Coroner's Office. With him was
Francis de {. Sullivan, another director.
They qualified quickly, leaving only
Cornelius Vanderbilt and Thomas de
Witt Cuyler. The latter, 10 was eN-
planned. was out Of the state, but
would come in as soon as possible.
Mr. Vanderbilt appeared. lie was
plainly nervous and anxious 20 get the
thing over with.
when he left, the Coroner explained
why, after announcing he would parole
the directors and general manager OF
the company, he had insisted on their
giving bonds. The law, he said, was
mandatory.
"Ill do business with any man that
wants TO do business with me IN de-
cent way" said the Coroner, but
Quackenbush and Burke, those two will
apologize 20 me before they do any
more business IN this court"
District Attorney Perkins sent word
that he would present the case Of the
PETERBOROUGH officials 20 the grand jury
As soon a. the transcript OF the evil
dence Riordan had ordered made was
sent him.
At least ten OF the fourteen directors
are millionaires. Only one Of the four
teen. however, impressed the Coroner,
and he was Daniel G.. Reid. The tin
can king" was about 10 be sworn, when
he held UP proceedings 20 ash 20 be al
lowed 20 read the bond before him.
"If may. MIR. Coroner" he said. I'D
like 20 see what am 70 sign and swear
to"
Certainly" said the Coroner.
Reid read. then signed.
Nov. there is a careful man Tor
YOU said the Coroner. "Or else one
that's been well burnt