Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-10-26
WANTS BIG DAMAGES
A Belle Who Was Hurt at the
Vanderbilt Ball.
SHE SUES FOR FIFTY THOUSAND.
Claims that the Edison Electric Company
is Responsible for the Injury.

An Engine Used to Furnish the Power for
the Electric Lights Frightened Her
Horses and They Became Unmanage-
able--She Was Thrown Out and Sus-
tanned Injuries from Which She Will
Never Fully Recover.
NEW York, Oct. ga novel lawsuit
which will create sensation in the in
ner circles of the Four Hundred of this
city has just been instituted.
1t is mora than probable that the hear
ing. when it takes place, will call for
the presence on the witness stand of
some of the Vanderbilts, Astors, Whit
neys and other leading society lights.
The suit is the outcome of the famous
bail given by Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
at Newport, on August 10, of last year.
1t is brought by Miss Dresser, of New
port and New York, against the Edison
Electric Company of Newport, of which
Millionaire John Whipple is the treas
urer.
Miss Dresser estimates her damages at
$50, 600, and the suits are for that amount
| Her lawyers are Richard w. G. yelling,
of Wall street, and w. D. Reelker, of
| Providence, r. |.
Miss Dresser is we'll known in society
as a friend of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt,
| the Goulets and other wealthy people.
She owns a cottage at Newport also, and
| has taken prominent part in the social
functions at that fashionable resort.
Miss Dresser was one of the guests at
| the great Vanderbilt ball 1t was the
event of the season at Newport, and no
cxucusr had been spared to make it a
| grand success
| 4 feature of the occasion was the light
ing of the spacious grounds surrounding
the Vanderbilt cottage by electricity.
! his was very expensive matter and
the contract was given to the local Edi-
son Electric Company
The effect fully warranted the outlay,
and the grounds took on fairy-like as
pect Scores of guests were present from
New York, Boston, Providence and
other cities, and the ball was acknow-
| ledged to have been the finest ever given
at Newport,
A temporary engine had been locatde
in a corner of the grounds to furnish the
power for the electric lights. Miss Dres-
| ser on the evening of the ball hired car
riuge from Stewards stables, as her own
| horses and carriages were in the coun-
try. The carriage was driven by Will
lam Rafferty,, who is to be an important
| witness in the suit.
| Miss Dresser was one of the bellies of
the ball, and enjoyed herself hugely in
the brilliant assemblage. At1:3O o'cloc
a. m she called her carriage and started
to return home. The engine on the
| grounds is said to have been running at
| fu speed. AS the carriage was passin g
the engine the horses became unmanage
BILE and dashed away.
The team ran along Ochre Point, seri-
ously near the ocean, to Annandale
Road and then turned into Narragan-
sett avenue.
Just opposite the handsome Travers
cottage the carriage upset and Miss
Dresser was thrown out upon the stony
ground. Miss Dresser was severely in
iurcd and did not take any active part
i'll the social gayeties of Newport during
the balance of the season.
Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mrs. Aston,
Mr.. Clews and many other ladies called
On her daily for some time after the &C
cident, to learn how she was progress
| ing. Nothing was said about a suit for
several months after the occurrence.
1t was noticed by the people a New
port this summer that Miss Dresse
walked with difficulty, and that a linn
was plainly peceptible. 1t is said tina
the lady has never recovered from thu
effects of the accident, and will be lam
for life.
AS time passes the effect became NOR,
serious, and Miss Dresser experience!
more and more difficulty in attending t.
her own social duties.
The certainty that she would new e
i fully recover from the injury finally in
g duced Miss Dresser to begin the suit, tn
d papers in which have been served o.
a the Edison Electric Light Company, O
e Newport.
At the office of the Edison Electri
Company Counsel Lewis said yestel
day.
The suit has been brought agains
- a subsidiary Edison Company, the stoc
of which is mostly held in Newport. w
are not interested in the suit except a.
minority stockholders in the Newpor
Company. The suit is being defende
by local legal talent there"
Col. Samuel R. Haney of Newport ha
u been engaged to defend the suit
a Miss Dresser's action has been br ougI
in the United States Court, and th
e papers are made returnable Nov IS.