Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-03-27
THE COURT PROCEEDINGS
Report of the Sheridan Damage
Case.

Criminal Cases Disposed of - Cron Ac-
quilted - Young wertz Sent to the
Rerormatory Minor Matters Dis
posed of.
Bridget Sheridan widow sc. VS..
the township of Palmyra. This
was an action brought to recover
damages arising from the death of
her husband who sustained fatal in
iuries, by falling through bridge
with his team and wagon, The
bridge is located across the Wallen-
paupac river, near Hawley, which
is the line between the counties of
Wayne and Pike. The testimony
showed that Michael Sheridan was
a hale Industrious man of about 50
years of age, and that he was en-
gagged in the business of farming,
teaming and quarrying stone. That
he drew two loads over the bridge,
the day before the accident, and
Sept. 10 1894 in crossing the bridge
on the Pike county side gave way.
1t appeared that it was built in two
parts, pier being located near the
centre of the stream and that Pal
myra township built and maintained
its part. The bridge is on public
road which has been for many years
worked by the supervisors, and they
also repaired the bridge from time to
time, and paid workmen for so doing
Mr.. N[anderville said Chas. Downs
as supervisor of Palmyra township
in Pike county built that end over,
or had it done 10 years ago, and that
it had beA built over three times in
ten yeafs Ind was not safe in all that
time. TIL ht it was repaired about a
year befofe the accident, and that
the ends 5f the chords were rotten,
and the cause of it's falling was the
brace showed out. John Glass testi-
fed he put braces under the Pike
county side for Raidloff and also put
in stringer in Sept. 1898 for John De-
groat who was supervisor, and paid
him for his work. At that time the
stringer on the upper side was de-
cayed and he told the supervisor it
would not last a year, but he said
they were short of funds and could
not repair it at present.
Wesley Pierson said he had known
the road since 1870 and before, and
that it had been kept up by the pub
lie all that time. There were some
plank put on the Pike county span
by the supervisor only a few days
before the accident.
Thos. Grady worked out his tax on
the road when Huff and Degroat
were supervisors, and he saw De-
groat- repairing the bridge taking
out timbers &c.
Thas. Brophy got the timbers of
the bridge, which were produced in
court, and which showed the rotten
condition of the bridge.
Joseph Reidmiller a carpenter
passed over the bridge in 1892 or 1893
while Glass was working there, and
spoke to Degroat about the condition
of the chords, that they looked black
and poor, and told him one side was
as bad as the other. Evidence was
also given showing who had been
the supervisors of the township
for a number of years and also show
ing the earning capacity of Sheri-
dan, and also further establishing
the fact that tax had been worked
out ON the road and the bridge re-
paired by the supervisors for sever
al years.
The defendant showed by S. R
Huff who was supervisor in 1890
that he that year put in chords bra
ces middle beams, and head blocks
using good hemlock and oak lumber
Newcomb Kimble worked for HUFF
in doing this work and also under
De Groat in planking the bridge
De Groat supervisor in 1892 put il
two sleepers on the lower side ant
at that time 1 examined the upper
side. He denied telling Glass they
had no money to make repairs, and
: did not tell Grady the bridge wa.
good enough.
Homer Downs supervisor in 1894
put planks ON the bridge, and il
} August same year tried the bridg'
, with bar, and thought it was left
! in good condition. Did not test the
stringer over the pier or abutment
] Henry Quick helped put planks OF