The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-21
Miss Mcneil Fell Over a
Pile of Lumber.
NOW SUING FOR $4,000.
Defendant is Timothy Lyons, a
Sewer Contractor.
HIS MENLEFT LUMBER IN STREET

Preparations for bicycle lesson by
number of young ladies. who work in
Peck street jewelry shop was the Indirect
cause of suit for Sl5. .0o0 which was on
trial in Judge Bosworth's court before a
jury today. The plaintiff was Miss
Margaret j. Mcneil and the defendant,
Sewer Contractor Timothy j. Lyons Her
Injuries are of most serious nature.
Shortly after s o'clock on the night Of
June H. five friends of Miss O'Neil called
at bershouse where she boarded ON Smith
street. near Ruggles street. Four of the
callers had been several times to Miss
McNeii's nome before and went 10 the
back door, but the fifth one, IA Miss Gala
CHER was stranger TO the houss and she
rang the front door bell. Miss Mcneil
went To the door when the boil rang and
invited Miss Gallagher up stairs. The
latter refused, saying she had her bicycle
on the sidewalk, and unless she could
put l. in the front entry she would have to
walt outside and watch IL. Owing to the
front entry being very small, Miss O'Neil
said the wheel could not be put there,
but she would show Miss Gallagher where
TO place 1t.
This was what led up to the accident.
Miss Mcneil went out of the door down
n few stems and stumbled right over q pie
OF lumber, that had been placed on the
sidewalk by Contractor Lyons men who
had removed it from the Smith street
sewer which they were building at the
time. She at the time weighed l75 pounds
and was in the best OF health. The LUMBER
was about two feet high and Miss Mcneil
fell upon it with great force. Miss
Gallagher tried to lift her but she was SD
heavy she slipped from Miss Ga1Iagher's
arms back onto tho rough boards, striking
her head.
The injured woman did not complain
much after the accident and she en- ter.
tained her friends after their return from
"A spin on Oakland avenue, which by the
way is a dark and retired thoroughfare
and an excellent place for bicycle practice.
Late at night Miss McNeils left arm
began TO pain her and one of her feet was
very sore. She tried to work the next
day but had to give e up and summoned
DIR. Boucher The doctor attended her
during July and August and her injuries,
while painful, did not appear to be Of q
permanent nature.
suit was then begun against Contrac-
tor Lyons by her through Attorney John
W. Hogan and the damages were placed
at $500. In September last Miss McNeil's
eyes hegan to trouble her and she found
tDat she could M longer work at her
trade OF chain making mt which trade she
had been for long time an expert max
ing ths finest of gold chaine and earning
from $40 TO Sl2 q week. The amount
sued for was raised to $1,000 and within
week or so her symptoms became more
alarming and her doctors stated that her
injuries Were Of "a permanent nature and
she was apt To become pby steal wreck
and could never recover her former
health. The indications are. the doctors
claim, that her nervous system has been
badly shattered and her eyes ara con-
stantly twitching and her face has q de-
formed look.
There was no light on the lum Der, 1t 10
claim ed, and also that Miss Mcneil had
no knowledge of its dangerous position
when she left her door as the lumber had
been piled on the sidewalk In front of it
late on tho afternoon of the accident and
she on her return from work had entered
the yard by n side gate and gone into the
nome Of her sister with whom size boarded,
by back door.
Walter f. A Angell is counsel for the de.
fendant.