The Sun.
London, England, 1818-08-18 00:00:00

SHERIFF V. 11411 SE AND HILL.

This was an action brought by Mrs. Sheriff, &
widow, for a serious injury sustained from the
upsetting of the defendants' coach, on its way
front this city to Weston-super-Mare. The coach
upset at Congresbury Bridge. Mr. Serjeant Nell
opened the case, and dwelt upon the carelessness
of the driver, as- well as on the unfitness of the
coach to carry so many passengers as were in and
upon it, at ihe time the accident happened. • The
coach was built to run with only two horses, and
there wete'five inside paSsengers instead of tour.
The coach was driven over the bridge in a most
furious manner, turning so short round that the
off wheel was six inches from the ground. The

unfortunate plaintiff was on the top of the coach.
The damage s were laid at 5001., and the Learne4
Counscl said, it would be for the Jury to decide
whether she was entitled to that sum, or any part
of it. If Mr. Harse or Mr. Hill employed
person to drive their coach who did not know his
business
_they must abide by the consequences.
He only hoped that be should see cnaclzee in the
box, and he would see it he could not drive hims.
Having briefly stated the case, he'should proceed
to call his ►vitnesses.

James Wookey sworn.—Lives near the spot where the
coach was upset. Was nut 'mar when the accident happened,
but met the coach soon after. The coach was built for two
horses ;—saw written un tie coach " Licensed to carry Four
Inside and Ten Outside."

John Wilmot said, that he (ices at Congreshury, and is a
blacksmith by trade. Saw the coach uu the sth of July
coming over the bridge in a hasty manner.— [Here'the Judge
requested the witness to speak louder ; he did not doubt he
cou►d hammer loud enough..]—Witness proceeded. 'He saw
the off wheel of the coach half a foot front the ground. Thu
coach leaned touch to the left side, and then overturned-

.toh►- Arney saw the coach coming over Kent road, and go
down over the bridge and airier.; heard the cunebuian..say
that he could not Itianage the wired horse. There wire a
great wany people present. probably'filty. Herr the Counsel
for the defendant requested hint to &tante some of the persons
present. Title witness. was very obstinate, and, would not
name any of t beitersons present , till the:Judge addressed bin-,
when he said that his brother and a MA. Jennings ►cure there.
The Judge said that the witness had done no credit to himself
or the cause, and requested him to leave the Court.

•
Mary Ann Wookey lives at the Inn, near the spot where
the accident happened. Saw the coach go down over the
bridge much on one side, and cried out•--," Oh. the coach
will be over." The horses were galloping at the time.
James Woolsey was again tnlied. He said be should have
locked his coach, if heavy laden.
Mr. Jos. Overhury was a passenger. The coach was very
narrow in the bottom, and hang cower on the sole it fell by an
inch than on the other. Believed there were bee passengers
inside, and eight out, who were rollei about very much, on
account of the coach being- hang lower on one side than on
the other. Witness did not tind any difference going up or
(low!' the bridge than if, on plain ground. The. coachman
ought to have locked the wheel going down.
Mr. Heavcn said the coach leaned so much on one side go-
ing dawn the hill, that he. was apprehensive it wunid upset.
J. D. Sheriff is :shout niue Yeats old, and a sou of the plain-
tiff. Was with his mother Hticu the coach upset; there were
elute!' outside passengers ; remembers the coachman driving
over the bridge very fast ; the coach was leaning oh the left
side ; his mother and %Irs. GftiVell were hurt. There way a
hole in the rigid which he could out see, but was told so' by
his mother.
Mr. Heaven was again called, and said that there was a
hole in the road, and thought that might have caused the
upsetting of the coach. There was room etwugh on either
side of the bole for the coach to pass, but noire room out the
right side. The coach went np .and down the bridge at
the same rate, and the bole was in the track where coaches
generally pass.
'flue Jwige observed, that was no reason why the coach
should upset.
Mr. N. Smith, surgeon, arrived about half an hour after
the accident happened. The side of the road on which the
coach tell was steep. The road coming over the bridge forms
us right angle. There were two or three hollows in the road,
but not deserving the swum of holes ; it was only a small ea-
vitY• The coachman should have locked the wheel, or care-

fully pulled up.
%fr. Greetle, surgeon, of Yatton, attended Mrs. Sheriff
from the :itls of Jnly non! the :25th, and stated the irjury
M;-s. S. sustailwd. He thought that she would never recover
from the effect, of the fall.
Dr. Porter was called in to see Mrs. Sheriff on the '.6th of
September, in consequence of a bilious vomiting with which
,he suffered much. He examined her body, and found the
large bones had been much shaken, and the ligaments
strained. lie had seen her 13 blues; she is not recoveied,
and it was his opinion that she never would recover.
Fur the defendant, several witnesses were called, who de-
posed that the coach was goin:,-; at its tt uul rate when fur ite-
cideut
happelled,-;thout seven miles an hour,—and that
.1 he
accident was entirely owing to the hole the r 0.,,
tcil
being tilled with water could wit he perceived by the driver.
The Coachman, ~wore that it was .itupossible to avoid the
rut—that there were nine pa,serteerf, and a r.hiiel, nutsole,
tie; iusjd Plaiutilif was takes to the 1/1(1. bA, stilt JUL

witness aliotit 't forttligh lr
t afteard... Ire went °„,tr
I'bfferf
1:et1 -room, when she mitered a glass of tom and Va".; the
On, and said. Coachman, do nut put yourself out of
tb
!vaY. there is no charge against yon, the Coach. rjr.er
Horses. I feel more for you than mc•elf. I shall neccrrasa
pert any thing from you, nor from the Proprietors.
mete, a,eident,"
that three
Mrs. Hill, wife of one of the defendants,
months after the accident, she had callcd upsa on the F4)„ca0
who said to her, that " she was very sorry the ieride,',„r
happened; but no blame could be attached to the
man, nor 'did she intend to bring any-action."
the evi'
The Learned Judge, in summing, p•
dence , remarked on the improbability. of the te4r,,E,
stony of the two last witnesses. Tit e J tol;
tired, and after deliberating about half an I),'ijii;
returned a verdict tor the plaintiff; damagebi•
Numbed and Fifty Pounds.—The trial laSteil
hours.
The other trials yesterday were of .n° P9l?
importance whatever. This ddy two inteterTi
Special Jury Causes will come On it1'64140
V. B,tchanan"-,-and " Gough 6: the 13031°;-
Light Company.