Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-06-23
SCENE Of FATAL
CRASH Vie WE'D
BY GRAND JURY
Meeting Here All Day to Probe
Grade Crossing Tragedy
of June Is
WITNESSES ARE HEARD
Visit the Eagle Fire House and
Hall Avenue Crossing
as Well
RETURN TO CITY HALL
Afternoon Will be Spent in
Hearing Stories Told by
Witnesses
RETURN TO CITY HALL

The grand jury at 1880 o'clock
this morning convened in the coun-
Gil chambers at City Hall to start
their investigation of the grade cross
ing accident of last Wednesday night.
which resulted in the death of nine
of Perth Amboy's volunteer firemen.
1t was the first time in some time
that a grand jury convened outside
of New Brunswick. the county seat
of Middlesex.
After short session in the coun-
Gil chambers, which was attended
by, Prosecutor Joseph +. Stricken,
Assistant Prosecutor John E. Toolan
and the members of the jury. the
party started out in seven automo-
biles to make a tour Of inspection
of the various points of Importance.
DR.. William E. Ramsay. foreman Of
the jury, intimated that the men,
bers of that body would be kept busy
| with this case up until about
o'clock this afternoon, and that any
| report of indictments returned would
not be given out until next week.
John c. Platt of this city and John
Lott and John Applegate are the
court officers in charge of the jury.
The first stop was made at the
Market street crossing of the Cen
trail railroad. the point where the
nine firemen met their fate a week
ago last night. DR.. Ramsay. as fore
man of the jury. and Assistant Pros
In Tn Ot 10 y
members of the jury how the acci-
dent happened. and used an auto
mobile to represent the fire engine
| approaching the crossing. 1t was
on this fire engine the dead firem en-
were riding when the accident hap
pened.
From the Market street crossing
| the jurors, assistant prosecutor
| court officers and others in the party
went to the Eagle Hose Company
firehouse on Davidson avenue where
they remained for a short time. The
purpose of the visit to the firehouse
was possibly to show the distance
from this place to the railroad cross
ing.
After leaving the firehouse tho
party went to the Hall avenue bridge
where a discussion was held on the
| distance from this point to the Mar
ket street railroad crossing. Wher
the train Is at this point, the gat'
tender at Market street Is signalet
of it's approach, and the purpose O.
this discussion was possibly to judge
the amount of time the gate tender
had in which to lower the gates.
From Hall avenue the party wen
to the Washington street crossing o
the Central Railroad. At this cross
ing discussion was held on thu
possibility of an engineer seeing {
red flag at the Market street cross
ing. In the opinion of the jurors
the engineer could not see the flal
| at the Market street crossing.
The juro3, then returned to City
Hall where the first of fifteen wit
nesses, was called into the counci
chamber. The first witness wa:
i Mrs. F. S. Ackerman. 263 Mark Q
street and she remained in session
with the jurors for about fifteei
minutes. The second witness calle'
was William Frazer, a young MAJ
of Meade street who was standing a
the crossing when the accident oc
Cured. and was injured when n
was hit by part of the fire trucl
after the collision.
Prosecutor Stricken, who was il
attendance when the members o
the jury convened this morning, die
not make the trip around the city
but returned after the second wit
ness had been called. All of th'
Jurors were in attendance at thi'
sc ssion, with the exception of Ar
thur Hillpot. who was expected Il
arrive later in the day.
Frazer was before the jury TO
about fifteen minutes. and Morri
Shumsky of the Perth Amboy CIT,
Market was the third witness called
After Mr.. Shumsky was excused
the jury remained in session for
considerable length of time. befor'
word was sent out that the witnesse!
were excused until 1:45 o'clock. unit
which time recess was taken.
Following luncheon at the Eas
Jersey Club the jury again began de
liberations shortly after O'Clock.
| pobn Rafrirerafors at kelly & McAlin