Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-01-08
COSTLY FIREWORKS.
The Most Expensive Display OF Fire.
works Ever Seen in the State
Mexico Never Does Things by
Halves.

lC-
Mexico Never Does Things by
Halves.
James Dowell Wants $4,000 for Re-
Ing Struck by a Rocket-Prospect
for q Leng Lawsuit.
On the 18th day of November, as
every Democrat in the county will
remember, We had a big ratification
meeting in Mexico and a large dis
play of fireworks at night. The
fireworks promise to prove the
biggest thing of the day. AS all the
readers of the LEDGER will remem-
Der some of the fireworks vent off
accidentally and a rocket struck Jas.
Dowell, who was over near Harper
& Turner'S store, severely wounding
him in the face. Yesterday James
Dowell, through his attorneys, Geo.
Robertson and II. S.. Priest, brought
suit for $4,000 damages. He sues
John A. Guthrie, Cash Blackburn,
J. II. Boyd, and Wood Maddox,
claiming that they had charge of the
fireworks. They are all responsible
and good men-any one of them
worth the $4,000. The suit we pre-
sumo will be long and hotly contest
ed There is no doubt hut what
Dowell was severely hurt. As to
how much he should be paid or who
should pay it or whether any one is
responsible are matters that cannot
be stated till the evidence is in and
the law expounded.
We see no objection to the chair
man of the Democratic central CON-
mittee drawing a check for the
amount.
THE PETITION.
The following is the petition ger
batim:
State of Missouri, ! In the Circuit
Co. of Audrain. Court.
January Term, 1885.
James W. Dowell, plaintiff,
VS..
J. 4. Guthrie, j. Fl. Boyd, Cash
Blackburn, Wood Maddox, defend
ants.
Plaintiff states that defendants on
the 18th day of November, 1854, at
the said county and within the cor
porate limits of the city of Mexico, a
municipal corporation organized I'M
der a special charter from the legis-
lature of the State of Missouri. en-
gagged in and undertook to give a
pyrotechnic display. That under
said charter the Legislative depart
ment of said city government is COM
posed of a council with power to
enact all laws necessary for the well
being of said city and to regulate the
police thereof. That under said
power given and conferred upon said
council it did on the -d day If
18S-, enact an ordinance making it
unlawful to shoot off and explode
fire crackers, roman candles, sky
rockets and like explosives and fire.
works except of a 4th day of July ;
and it was unlawful so to do on the
11th day of November, 1884.
That there is a public square in
said city of Mexico and in the center
thereof is situated a court house with
a veranda thereto attached on the
east side thereof of the height of
about 20 feet. That on all sides of
said court house are public streets
and near to said veranda. That said
court house and veranda are in the
central part of said city, being in the
center of the business part and most
populous portion thereof. That said
streets on said day and at the time
of said pyrotechnic display were
thronged with people. That said
PROCEEDINGS so used by defendants
consisted of Roman candles, sky
rockets and various other kinds Of
fireworks, all of which were danger
Gus and highly combustible and ex.
plosive In their character.
That said sky rockets were charged
with from a quarter to half a pound
of powder and when ignited would
shoot from an eighth to g fourth o.
a mile with the speed and destructive
ness of a rifle ball. That said de
PENDANTS negligently and ca~relessly
selected said veranda on said courr
house and there did give and con
duct said p%yrotechnic display, ignite
and shoot off said sky rockets anG
other fireworks. That plaintiff was
at the time of shooting said frework,
on the streets aforesaid and wa,
struck in the face with one of tn.
sky rockets ignited and fired off b,
said defendants. That said defend
ants SO carelessly and negligent,
handled and shot off and fired sale
sky rockets and fireworks and per
li1ttCu tuC Sdilc ~ Dt 81 utSllPtutl
and carelessiy handled, fred off ant
shot off that plaintiff was struck a!
aforesaid by one of said sky rockets
so handled and shot off in and undel
the control and charge of said de
PENDANTS, which said sky rocket pen
etrated the face and head of plaintiff
knocked him down. shocked him ant
rendered him unconscious for a perict
of several hours, lacerated his ski
and flesh, broke his right upper max
Hilary or cheek bone, put out ant
permanently destroyed his right ey,
and otherwise wounded, lacerated
tore and bruised and injured his heat
and face externally and internally
That he lay in danger of death
wounded, sick, sore and bruised. fo
a period of a month, suffering great
in body and in a state of great mer
tai anguish, and is still sufferin
greatly in body and mind. That b
was put to the expense of hiring
-oo- o-l ~l