Year: 1868

The Murder OF a Street Railroad Cos.


One of the most cold -blooded and atrocions
murders that has been committed in this city
tor some time was the assassination Of con-
ductor on o Seventh avenue car on Monday
evening. The testimony at the inquest yestsr.
day shows concusively that the murdered man
gave no cause Of offence at the time, and that
the assassin abused, insulted and threatened
him in the most wanton manner, refusing to pay
his fare when asked for The conductor, otter
vainly endeavoring to bring his refractory
passenger to reason, was at length compelled
to eject him from the car. Thereupon tbs
rufaan ran after the car and stabbed the con-
ductor, who was standing on the rear platform.
In the confusion the assassin escaped, leaving
his victim in dying condition.


While we hope that the murderer will be
secured and punished, we must say also that
this atrocious deed calls imperatvely for an
investigation into the management Of our
street railroads, a. faS as the conductors arc
concerned. There is hardly class Of people
against whom q greater outcry ID raised, and
yet none who are placed in . more perplexing
and dangerous position The conductor Of .
street car has to endure sometimes abuse false
accusations and threats from drunken rowdies
and In the discharge of his duty. as in the
present instance, his life is in danger.


II has often been charged on con-
ductors that they allow pickpockeh and
intoxicated men on their cars at night They
cannot prevent this evil without subjecting
themselves to insult and injury. There is
large class Of people who ride in the street
cars and look upon the conductor as an inferior
and fair game for their tongue or fists Per-
sons who will, even in tho last stage Of drunk
enness, hesitate at interfering with others on
the street or in the house, think il one Of their
rights and privileges to abuse the conductor
Of q street car or course there are many
just causes Of complaint, from time to time,
against conductors, but to proceed against
them as class on account Of the faults Of
some of their number would be unjust and
wicked. The real parties to blame for the
outrages nightly committed on the street cars
are the directors and superintendents Of tho
various city lines. The unfortunate conductor
or driver il saddled with everything that takes
place on his car, while ho judges forget that
he is powerless to prevent most Of these out
RACES. His superiors, however. can easily adopt
measures to protect both passengers and em-
ployes against rufna...sm and violence. - -
placing me1 at different points along the liae.
by strictly prohibiting any person from getting
on Q car when al the seats are taken, and by
. more thorough unanimity with the police
authorities in relation to carrying out the rules
Of the company, many Of these disorders could
be prevented by the directors Of the city lines.
In view Of the present management, it is clearly
the duty Of the State Legislature 70 inquire into
the matter and silt II thoroughly, so that .
satisfactory conclusion may be reached. The
travelling public, which includes all classes,
have vital interest in the subject, and demand
It's investigation ami settlement At the hands OF
their representatives,.