The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-09-08


Hon. Wm. II. English, and the first
chapter has already been furnished
to the readers of the Commercial.
All his record, as it has been and
will be published, Is but that OF the
courts in city where he has lived
twenty years, and where he has ac-
cumulated a fortune of millions.
BEGAN back ten wears ago, when
suit was brought by John Smith
against the Citizens Street Railway
Company. of which Wm. II. English
was president and the controlling
owner.
"John Smith, drayman, IS Fay
cite street. deposeth and saith that
he came to indianapolis nearly fit-
teen wears ago as an employe OF the
Street Railroad Company; that he
was engaged as car starter at the
stables of the company, and was a
faithful and efficient hand, and had
charge of the stables at night and IN
the early morning that William IL.
English. The president of the compa-
nv. did bring from Scott county, In
diana. his former home, a large num-
ber OF inexperienced men and boys,
who were employed rs drivers at
low wages. and that one of these
drivers. while running his team
along Illinois street, at the corner OF
Georgia. ran over and killed my lit
tie Girl Ellen, aged u years, she lIv-
ing but 4 minutes. After the funer-
al. said William IT, English came to
me and wanted 10 know what J was
going TO do about the matter, saying
he supposed the company would
have 10 pay me something, and pro
posed that the sum should be left TO
Father Bessonies. the Catholic priest,
of this city. To this ] agreed, and,
after investigating ajl the clrcun-
stances the Father gaze as his de-
eisi0n, one thousand dollass ana iu-
neral expenses. This sum Mr. Eng
iish then refused to pay, and pro-
posed TO leave the award to arbltra-
tors. To this ] agreed, when the
same sum was agreed upon, and
this. too. he refused to pay. Acting
nnder advice. rs ] am not educated,
/ gave the case 10 the Jaw firm OF
Porter. Harrison d Fishback. telling
them ] had no ready money, but
they might have half for their fee.
The case came to trial in 1870, but
before the trial, the same day, Mr..
' English took a change of venue.
The case was set for Danvilie,
November /. 1870, and Mr. Porter
was present, and had nay witnesses,
whom had to pay their wages and
expenses day by day Mr.. English
was there and made another atiida-
Wit, getting o postponement on ac-
count of the absence Of some of his
witnesses. Ny lawyers then told
me that the game was TO wear me
oct, rs ] was a poor man, having
left The company and bought h0rse
and drav; and that, in order to PIE,
uent any trick, ] had better get a
LAWYER there to watch the case, and
/ got the Hon. j. NJ. Campbell
When the case came up again, | was
there with nay witnesses. among
them being John Buser, the police
mm who saw the accident, and, by
swearing to something, Mr. English
got it stayed of again.
Before it came up the third time
] was sitting on my dray at the cor
ner of Pennsylvania and Washing
ton streets, by Fletcher d Sharpe's
bank, when Mr.. English came along
and said: Here, Smith, we ought 10
settle this matter and not be lawing
about it; you can't afford i.
u told him he had never done as
he agreed to. and the Court would
have 10 decide.
He then said I'll settle with
YOU if you come down street, when
/ again said the lawyers would tend
TO the matter.
AT that he became quite excited,
and said: Damn the Irish This
country would have been better off
without them, and added: Look
here once more; / viii settle with
YOU, but not for n thousand dollars.
You set too high a price on your
damned young one, and | can bring
witnesses to prove in any court that
she never made you a dollar
Il told him that if ! was . poor
man my child was as good az his.
and jumped Off my dray to hit him,
and the crowd interfered.
Mr.. English then went to my
wife. when | was awav at work, and
said my lawyers had advised a COM
promise, and that he had concluded
10 pay $1,000, provided she you'd
take $3.50 in street car tickets. and
that be would pay the costs Of the
suit She agreed to that, and signed
a release. but | never signed it. be
cause / was not satisfied with such a
settlement, and of the way ! had
been treated. The whole expense TO
me was over $1,000. caused by the
postponement, and | had to sell a
little house TO pay my witnesses apd
expenses, aside from attorneys fees.
/ used to work on the Hudson River
Railroad, and lived in Westchester
county. 4. G.. Wheeler was road
master and Daniel Carpenter walk
ing boss. | own my property in
Favetie street. have two draws. and
have all the work J can do.
bis
JOHx = SMITH.
mark.
Attest ". d. Sapp.'
The reaqrd shows that the suit
was filed May s, 1870. and on Order
Book % of the Marion Civil Circuit
Court is the decree giving change of
venue on petition of defendant and
payment Of costs. In Fee Book No.
n it itappears that William c. snock,
County Clerk, received from defend
ant 5000. leaving a balance of 50
cents, and that the balance of the
costs, amounting to s1265, is vet n-
paid.
ia the office of Porter. who is now
associated with his son. / found the
old ree0rd regarding the final settle
ment of the case. 1t is in the hand
writing of Gen. Ben. Harrison. the