New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-26
The Thompson Dean In Court.

On the eighth of last February Young
man of this city named John A. Connor,
clerk on the steamer Thompson Dean, died
on an uninhabited shore on the Kentucky
side OF the Ohio river. between here and
Cincinnati, while the Dean was on her way
to this city. Conner, it seems, had been
sent from the boat across piece of coun-
try, uninhabited Tor q few miles from shore,
to obtain some timber from q saw mill for
Captain Paul. On returning to the place
where he was to meet the boat he missed it.
and there being no aid around him, he be-
came for the time being Robinson Crusoe,
on lonely and deserted shore. He was to
"lonely man of the island" for, from the
effects of the exposure to the severe winter
weather, and from hunger, his life came to
an end without a friendly hand to grasp his
own in his dying moments, or q mothers
voice to cheer him as he gasped his last
breath.
Mary Francis Conner, his administrative,
filed complaint in the Common Pleas
Court yesterday against James Paul for
Conner. Her allegations are that at the
time of the injuries complained of by her
Paul was part owner and master Of the
steamer Thompson Dean, and John A. Con.
ner, the deceased, was then in his employ.
ment as second clerk on that boat. About
the eighth of February, 1875, while the
Dean was on her return voyage from New
Orleans to Cincinnati, Psul ordered Conner
to 60 to certain saw mill, situated about
eight miles from the Ohio river, on business
necessary to the repairing and navigation
OF the boat, and to return to q designated
point, where Paul agreed to await his
return and receive him on board the boat
The point on the return voyage
at which the orders were given,
and the place where Conner was to be re.
ceived on board the boat, were both within |
the boundaries of Kentucky, on the waters |
of the Ohio river, about - miles below |
Cincinnati. The road from the boat to the |
sawmill passed through q widespread forest |
destitute of human habitati0n, and Paul |
could not reasonably expect that Conner
would receive any human assistance in case
OF danger to his person while going or COM
ing in obedience to his orders. The weather
was at that time extremely cold, the ther-
indicating several degrees below
zero, and the danger from freezing immi-
nent. Conner was a young man, scarcely
twenty one years OF age. unconscious of the
perils of the service in which he was order.
I'd to engage, was in very delicate health.
badly crippled and deformed, and physic.
lilly unable to travel on foot any consider
sble distance, and was without money or
means for protection or subsistence of his
)Wu III LIS pUbS0S6lOu AC inc tlm0, all OF
which was known by Paul. Before enter
ng upon the execution of his orders it was
ndispensibly necessary to the safety of
connor and the successful prosecution of
lis orders that he should have been fur
lished by Paul with money, extra clothing,
PROVISIONS and facilities for travelling. Yet
PAUL, in utter disregard of the demands of
and in violation of his duty,
leglected to furnish him with the necessary
utfit for his journey, and forced him to
inter- upon the service unprotected against |
he perils of the undertaking. After
performing the service, Con-
Or returned within q reasonable time
0 the point designated, where he
Vas to be received back on board the
oat, but the boat had left the place and |
roceeded on her voyage, neglecting to take !
i'm back, whereby he was left upon an
inhabited shore, exposed to the cold. and |
atigued by travel, without any means of
rotecting his life from the periis by which
q was surrounded, many miles from any
ort, and at great distance from home. He
'as subjected to such great exposure of his
erson, and fatigue. cold and hunger as to
ause his immediate death. She charges
nat he lost his life by willful neglect OF
aul in the manner set forth. whereby he
as damaged in the sum Of $50, 900, tor which |
mount she eues.-LOuisriLLe Courier Jour.
al.