The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-06
FIFTH EDITION.


As soon as court resumed proceed.
ings at 200 o'clock yesterday after
noon, the case oil Joseph Quinn, ad-
mlnistrutOr of Harry L, Peace vs., tina
johnson Forge Company. to recover.
$50, 900 damages for Peaces death, was
again taken up and the examination
OF witnesses continued
William Shilling, who was on tho
stand when the noon recess was taken,
was recalled and cross examined bv
Mr.. Nields. He testified that the crane
was In an unsafe condition, and that
some OF the cogs were broken, which
caused the rope to slip. The witness
had refused to work on the crane on
account of its condition.
Thomus J. Baily, a machInIst, who
Is at present employed by the Harlan
Il Hollingsworth Company, testified
that he had considerable experiences
with cranes.
The cranes at Harlan's have eleats,
which hold tho drums and ono also
provided with break. which Is al
ways used when weight is being
lowered. Inc johnson crane would
be very liuble to slip when Jared. and
with The Eeating would slip from tho
slow to the fast, no one could hold it.
II man should touch the shaft, 10
would he likely to jar it.
Chares w. Sent was sworn, and teatt-
HE'D shat lie Ia mochinest and has been
for the past 20 years. lie Is row employ
ed by the J. Morton Poole Company In
his opinion the crane used by the John-
son Forge Company, with two men to
llft 1000 pounds on II was not safe. There
were several things about the crane which
rendered II unsafe. The oranks should
be attached to tho shaft. as otherwise
they are liable TO fly OF. He had seen
men killed 10y the handles flying OF.
This crane could have been prevented
from slipping by placing wrought iron
collar. so rs to hold the shaft. One of
these collars would cost about 70 cents.
and In the opinion OF tho witness would
have rendered tho crane safe. The wit.
ness had built number of cranes, but
had never built one without a safe guard
except where persons having them built
did not want one put on.
Georpe w. sands who IL employed as q
naohinest at the Philadelphia, Whining
ton and baltimore Railroad shops test.
lied that he has been machincst for %
years He has spent 10 years In tho navy.
three years OF which lie was In the engine
room.
He thought the johnson crane was dan.
gerouS. 1t should have n lat CHI on 1t that
would prevent the slipping OF the gear
ing. Even when tho latch is there 10
would be dangerous when raised. The
men would have to look out. Cfanos
which he had helped to build were COM
plete. having p tho 81 feEuards. With.
out all these Guards n machine would
be dangerous. lie considered q crane
without q safeguard man-killer, and
did not believe such machine could bo
used in New York.
He volunteered the opinion that any
firm using crane without safeguard
should 10 prosecuted. Mr.. Nields who
seemed somewhat irrltated by the remark
said: well, you had bettor come down
here and nelp Mr.. Bird conduct the case"
William Quinn testified he is a brother.
in-law OF Peace, and that when tho acci-
dent happened he was working with him
on the crane. He did not know whether
or not Peace WIS warned OF the danger.
The roll they were working with weighed
about 1000 pounds. They had raised IN
and were ordered TO lower, when lust as
they commenced tho crane went into the
last speed. and lie aud Peace were knock
cd down. When he got up he saw Peace
being carried away in an unconscious
condition.
How ard Raw was sworn. and testified
that he had bton employed by the john
son Forge Company. but now works Mt
he Penn sylvania bolt aud nut works,
Lebanon, Pa. The crane that caused the
accident was put up by q man named
Palmer. and the machinery came from the
Christiana rolling mill. The witness
made the bolts Tor the crane, and took
the material from the scrap pile. He
never considered the crane safe and had
refused to work ON II. A colored man
was badly hurt while working on this
crane.
Frank Oaks testified that he had built
| thu woodwork OF the crane from draw
| ings. The witness said he had asked Pal
mor why they did not put In new rig.
When he went TO operate the crane he
was afraid. heoluss he had once been in
| jured by crane whiclae he himself had
built, and which WAS without safety APP
| planes.
Ofiicer Thomas J, Gainor testified that
he had been employed in the Christla ma
| rolling mill. and had seen the crune. lie
knew OF two men being hurt with II. The
| crane never hat any safety appliance.
John w. SegArH. acolorCd man. said he
| VOL ked at the forge works for five week q.
| The crane slipped from the slow TO tho
| fast gearing. struck him and knocked him
| down. lie had been ordered to lower
| away by Dutch jake" After Segnrs
| was hurt hetold Mr.. Morris that he had
! boon hurt by tho crane. MIR. MorrisloOk-
! ed at his head and said he ''guessed it
! wouldn't amount 10 much" Witness was
hurt in June and Peace was hurt in July
| 1891,
When this witness left tho stand, court
took recess until 10 O'Clock this morning.