The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-03-11
surr AaAISsr TIE ELECTRIC CO.


As soon as court reoOnvened at $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon Mi. Bird
resumed the examination OF witnesses
for the plaintiff, in the case of Cook Va.
the Wilmington City Electric Com
pany.
John L. Porter testified that the even
ing before the accident he was at
go home about 10 O'Clock he saw
sparks coming from the electric light
wire. On the way home he noticed
that one Of the electric lights was out.
and after he got home he saw the wire
break. He was present the next morn
ing and saw Cook at the time OF the
accident.
William Gardner testified that he
did not; see Cook until two months
after the accident, and he had his left
hand in a sling. Upon the witness
asking him what WAS tho matter no
said he had been hurt by an electric
wile, which had injured his side and
back. and hurt his eyesight very
| much.
Charles Zeigler testified that he
knows John Cook, and had frequently
seen him at his fathers house, and
heard him complain OF hts head, back
and side. He had seen him try to read
| newspaper and put it down, saying
that he could not read OIL account of
his eyes.
George Leach testified that he was
| foreman at Bush's morocco factory
for nineteen years. He had hired Cook
and knew him 10 be good workman.
| Upon looking at Cooks hand, the wit
ness said that in his opinion he was
disabled from ever following his
\ trade.
This was the last witness called by
Mr.. Bird, and Mr.. Hoifecker opened
for tho defense. After stating his
case, end outlining his defense to the
jury. he commenced the examination
| of witnesses.
Samuel NJ. Trump testified that he
is the president of the Wilmington
City Electric Company, a corporation
formed for the purpose of furnishing
| light and motive power. They use two
| systems, one OF which Is the Westing-
house. This is the system used in the
western part OF the city, The electli-
city Is generated at fifth and Tatnall
streets, and from there sent over the
| wires.
Thera are three circuits which sup
ply that section of tie city. running
from main No. 5. After giving do
scription of the arrangement Of the
| vino switeh-boards. etc, the witness
said there was no instrument which
would show where there was break
in the wires, or they would have one.
The morning of the accident, as he
was going to the works OF the COM
pany, he saw two of the men working
ut this wire, that was broken, One of
| the men had hold OF the wire and
pushed il from him, when tho witness
remarked that the current wasstill on,
as tho lights were burning at his house
when he left.
The man evidently got the full shock
of the current, although he did not
seem to mind it. They frequently
handle the wires when tho current is
on, but the company do not like them
to do IL. for fear they may be burned
After the accident, the witness call
ed on Cook and saw that his hand
was badly burned. The vito bewaied
their lot, and said that it came har-
der on them because he hud but re-
Gently got into work, after being idle
| for some time, and the witness sym.
| pnthized with them very much.
He told them TO get the best doctor
they could. and to leave nothing I'M
done for his comfort. He called again
the next day, and thinking that per-
haps they were In need, he offered
Cook ten or fifteen dollars, to relieve
their immediate wants. lie did not
do this in tho way of q settlement, os
he had no thought Of such thing.
and was giving the money from his
own pocket. Cook refused to accept
| the money, and as he was walking
around the house, the witness told
him that as soon as he felt able, to
come up TO the works, and he would
have his name placed on the payroll
| lie also told him TINT il might result
in good situation for him, but he
never came,
| ON Tie cross. denomination tho wit
ness said that he OWLS live thousand
dollars worth of stock, and receives
fifteen hundred dollars yeur salary
rs president of the company. He had
heard OF men being injured and killed
10y broken electric wires, but did not
think there was wire in this city that
would kill every man it might fall on.
| BY this he meant that il depended in q
great measure on n mans condition,
for II he was weak, it might kill or in.
iurc him, but if he was Il strong man,
it would not hurt him.
The witness did not think it would
be possible To adopt any system by
| which the company would know when
u wire was broken, but when pressed
| 10y MIR. Bird. admitted that it might be
! IUEBlhie TO accomplish Inns by employ
ing fifty men ami us many horses to
patrol tho twenty circuits In this city.
lie however did not think that neces-
| -ary, as in his opinion he did not con
slider any OF their wires dangerous or
deadly. He had heard Cooks testi-
mony and that of his witnesses, but
he had his doubts about his being un-
conscious.
"Well' said Mr.. Blrd, 81 guess l
have got all out of you that you as
president ofthis company know about
electricity, and l must confess that it
is very little"
Mr.. Bird them proceeded to question
him on other matters, and finally said:
| DO you cay as president of this
| company, that upon the occasion of
ordinary storms there is danger of the
wires breaking and falling in the
| street, and that q man walking in the
| street. where he has q right TO be.
must continually be on the look out
or wires. for fear they might break
and injury or kill him% Not neces.
aarilY So replied the witness.
Reginald Van Trump testified that
he vas the superintendent of the cleo
trio light company. He then described
the wires in the vicinity where Cook
| was hurt. He was on duty until 8
o'clock the night of October 90, 1899,
and went on duty again at O'Clock
| the next morning. The break was re-
norted to him by the linemen, some
lime during the morning OF the 9th.
There are Instruments at the central
| station that Indicate there is trpubla