New-York tribune., 1919-03-19
Find BleWitt
Not Guilty in
B. r. I. Case
Jurors Acquit Him of Man.
slaughter i'll Wreck That
Killed Ninety-two Persons
St1G Corrcspoudencs

stag Correspondence
MINEOLA, Long Island, March 1S.-
"Not guilty" was the verdict found to-
night In the case Of Thomas F. Blewitt.
division superintendent of the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company, on trial
in the Supreme Court here on the
charge of manslaughter in connection
with the death of ninety-two persons
in the Malbone Street wreck in Brook
iyn on November l.
The verdict was returned at S:fS
o'clock. The jury had been out since
4:45 O'Clock.
Another Indictment charging homicide
is pending against Blewitt. This is
for the death Of Erskin Potter, killed
in the wreck. District Attorney Lewis,
who was in court when the verdict was
returned, was asked if Blewitt would
be tried on this Indictment. He replied
he was not sure the law would per-
nit it,
In his summary, Attorney Ocland
said, in part:
"Blewitt comes to you and asks you
squarely that if he is not guilty you
will have the manhood to say SO for
his benefit. That is all he asks. That's
what nc is entitled to ask.
'If in this case the state has failed
to satisfy you that beyond a reason
able doubt this motorman was incom-
petent, then your verdict should be
Immediately mot guilty
Speaking of the testimony given be-
fore the Kings County grand jury
Blewitt and the four other B. r. T.
officials and Luciano, Attorney Oeland
said:
"The day is coming when defendants
will be given a chance to be heard in
the grand jury room. If this defendant
had been allowed to be heard before the
grand jury this indictment never would
have been found"
District Attorney Lewis, in his ar
gument, said:
"They say we are making goat of
for trial first. They Gall the indicted
men) could all have been tried to-
gether,. and if they had been fair they
would have agreed If | had picked out
Luciano the cry would have been that
| tried to make him the goat
picked Blewitt because he is the first
man above Luciano, and he knows how
the people were killed and MANNED"
Justice Seeger Logan his charge to
the jury at $40, and announced that
he expected to finish in an hour. He
said in part
THE defendant was charged to main
tain safe operation of trains and mad
the right to get competent motormen
by any lawful means. The rules for
the preparation and instruction of
motormen were necessarily somewhat
embarrassed. If the motormen selected
we're competent it makes no difference
that the rules of the company were
violated. The company rules are not
statutes.
The defendant, as superintendent of
the division, had charge of the trans.
portation of passengers, including the
selection of motormen Cor trains. I
charge you that he ,gas pound to ex-
ercise the highest and utmost care
as far as human foresight can 90. If
he failed in that diligence in the ap-
pointment of Lewis Throughout JUS
tlcc Seeger spoke Of Motorman Luci-
ano as Lewis, the name by which he
was known to his employcrs), en-
dangerlng the health and safety of
passengers, and thereby as a result
I A"N'"oo NiiledtHeF was killed, you
may find that the first count of the
Indictment is sustained"
District Attorney Lewis announced
that he would be ready to begin the
trial Of the motorman, Edward Luci-
ano, or Anthony Lewis, on Wednesday.
March 26. Patrick E. Callahan. Luci-
amos counsel, agreed Justice Seeeer
ordered that panel Of 100 talesmen
be drawn