The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-22
Supreme j Judicial Court.
RFFORE JITDGE VIRGIN.

SATURDAY.-Dwight G. Parker vs. Portland Pub
ishng Company. To recover compensation for in
juries received in falling down the elevator-way in
"P1inters' Exchange September 18th, 1875. Ad
damnum $685. 600.
George III. Lefavor, foreman of PRESS composing
room, recalled-Mr. Foster of the PRESS was the
person notified to the danger before the Injury.
The danger referred to was in Thurston's employees
riding down ON the elevator to their dinners and
suppers and leaving the gates and doors to the ele-
vator open.
L. H. Cobb, night editor of the PREss-About IL
O'Clock heard groans. About ten minutes after
wards heard that man had fallen down the ele-
vator; went down. did not see the mans face; man
was taken up into the job office; there is bnt very
little clear space in the job office. After the plaintiff
was taken to the carriage returned to the editorial
room saw Mr.. Pullen and talked about the accident:
Mr.. Pullen went out and soon called me to examine
the hallway. Light on the Argus stairway was
burning brightly. could see objects very distinctly
The rays of the Argus stairway light came nearly to
the head of the stairway at the main entrance
noticed the gate to the elevator mostly closed;
there might have been an aperture of foot or two
The lights in the composing room were lighted and
light was coming into the entry from that room
through the different windows and from the editorial
room through the closet window, opposite the ele-
vator. 1t was bright moonlight night. The Ex-
change street doors at the foot of the stairs were
open. The moon shone in on the stairway and its
light was diffused through the entry. 1 could see
the Stats of the gate not the scratches Marks but
could recognize as gate well as in broad daylight
Last night tested the condition of the entry with
the lights over the competitors stands turned down.
and also with all the lights turned down; could see
the door of the PRESS Office from the foot OF the
Argus stairs with perfect distinctness.
Cross-examined-I should judge the width of the
stairway from Exchange street was five feet; no
window in The stairway, except the one over the
doors. No doubt out the first part of the
evening of the accident; do not recollect whether
turned down my gas then. Our orders are to turn
down the gas when out of the room, but we some
times forget to do SO; that is the theory but not
always the practice 1t is my custom to remain in
the Office after 10 o'clock but can't swear what
was doing that night. 1 have no recollection of
seeing the Argus gaslight in the stairway when IT
gave dim light.
F. L. Colley printer, in the employ of defendants
The first knew of the accident man came and
said man was in the elevator; went down;
asked plaintiff how he came there. He said, 81
went up in the Argus Office TO see Mel; when came
out opened the door and walked right off, and that
is the last thing / can remember / says "Dont
you remember coming down fight of stairs" HI
Says "No.' l asked him where he was hurt. HI
says ION the back. I asked him where he lived
he told me; l asked him if he wanted drink o.
water; he said he did; was as near him as
could get without touching him. 1 could smell hi
breath; could not tell what kind of liquor it was
that was bright moonlight night; on going to tn,
hallway found it light. 1 examined the hall-wa.
last night with the lights in the composing every ont
turned down. From the further end of the entry