The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-26
THE RAILROAD WON.
How a Co'ored Plaintiff Lest His Suit
for Damages--An Incident.
Special Telegram 70 the Statesman

How Co'ored Plaintiff Los! His Suit
for Damages--An Incident.
| Special Telegram 10 the Statesman.
DALLAS, April 18-On the oath of lest
February, Louis jackson, cOlored, filed
suit against the Missouri Pacific Railway
company. In his original petision he
stated that he was a resident of Dallas
county, and that on August 8, 1887, his
wife. MOllie Jackson, was passenger on
the Missouri Pacific passenger train, near
Henrietta; that owing to the neghg-
ence and careiessness Cf the com
| pany's agents, the train on which
his wife was passenger, cOl'ided with the
engine on the same track; that his wife
was thrown violently against the sharp
edge of a seat in the coach and received
severe wound upon the head, from the
effects of which she died in the following
Sep ember. Louis WAS sorely bereaved
at the loss Of his WIFI, and in being de-
prived of her society and services he con-
sidered himself damaged to the extent of
$4,000; also, the company should atonefOr
its reoklessness, aud asked for the further
um of $4,000 as exemplary damages,
and IN heact-broken, modest way he
prayed his countrymen in the jury box to
for. Yesterday morning Louis, through
his attorney filed an amended original
petition, in which he reiterated every
thing in the or ginal. He went further
and tod of the mental anguish he had
suffered because of the untimoly
death OF his wife, who was
true, faithful, kind and loving.
He said that from the date of her injury
to the day of her death she suffered many
tortures, and that in addition to his
mental anguish he had been under heavy
expense for physicians, medicine, nurses
and funeral expenses.
Soon after the last petition was filed the
case was called in the district court.
Louis was present and the whole room
full of lawyers, witnesses, jurors and
creditors were deeply impressed with tho
widower's untold grief. He sat on bench
and held in his hand hat which still
bore band of Grape. Witnesses we're in
troduced and gave their testimony. One
by one they told of the heartless corpora
tions carelessness, how little it cared for
human life, etc.
Finally a conductor named Rogers was
put on the stand. Colonel Armistead, the
plaintiffs attorney, asked
"Did you know the defendant?"
81 did," he answered
"Was she on the train when the collis
sion occurred?"
"She was"
"Was the injured on that occasion?"
apparently she was"
"Do you think the injury she rec sived
was calculated to produce death?"
Il do not"
"When was the last time you saw the
deceased alive"
about fifteen minutes ago." Sensa-
tion.
"Aoout fifteen minutes ago! Can you
produce her in court?'
In two minutes, SIR"
"Well, do go"
Rogers went TO the ante room and
brought in young mulatto woman, who
was placed on tho stand. She said her
name was Mollie Jackson; that she
was on the train when the collision
occurred that she was bumped slightly
on the head; that she had been home ever
since, and had been perfectly well, except
for a short time when she gave birth to
child.
Louis was paralyzed. He left the room,
and the jury, without leaving their seats,
rendered verdict in favor of the Missouri
Pacific railway company.
The iourneymen and contracting
painters meet tomorrow night to settle the
nine hour question, which is now pending
in that branch of the business.