The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-12
Laid on
Spencer.
FOR RECENT DEATH
Inquest on Street Railway
Fatality Was Of Interest.

spencer, NOV. 1.-THE inquest over
the death of the late Walter B. Norton,
who was killed Oct. 81, by coming in
contact with an electric light pole on
Main street, opposite the Moe place.
while on duty, was held at 10 o'clock
this morning in Judge Curtis office. The
three parties who are in the question
as regards the blame are the town of
Spencer Spencer Electric Light Com
pany, and the Worcester and Suburban
Electric Railway Company.
At the inquest this morning Luther
Hill appeared in behalf Of the Electric
Light Company and SUPERINTENDENT
German in behalf of the Worcester and
Suburban Company. State Inspector of
Electric Railroads Wheeler was also
present, besides Edward Calvin, motor
man on the car upon which Mr.. Norton
met his death, and Miss Nettie Bliss.
who saw the fatal accident Had it not
been for one question, Judge Curtis
would have undoubtedly located the
blame, but on account of which his de-
cision was reserved.
The vital question is this: The mole
which struck Mr.. Norton is an electric
light pole situated within about 31b feet
from the track, and upon this pole the
electric railway people have placed a
feed wire support wholly unbeknown
Mr.. Hill claims, to the electric light
company And it was on account of this
vital question that Mr. Curtis was
oDilged TO reserve his decision Judge
Hill, who appeared in behalf of the
Electric Light Company, claims that
neither his company nor the Worcester
and Suburban Company are to blame.
out the Whole blame comes on the town
of Spencer. =
He claimed that the selectmen of
spencer granted the Electric Light
Company franchise in 1887, and a wear
OF Two later located the poles them
serves, one OF which caused Mr.. Nor
TONS death. The town also granted the
electric road franchise, giving that
company right to place the tracks on
the north side of the road. not stating
now far it should be placed from the
sidewalk, nor stating anything about
the distance it should be placed from
the electric poles.
To my mind" said Mr.. Hill, "you
cannot blame either of the companies
but the whole blame rests on the Town
| of Spencer"
Superintendent German placed the
Whoie blame on Conductor Norton him
sell, claiming that the deceased was
careless and as result of which met
ms death. This statement met any-
thlng but satisfaction with the towns
| people present, as they claim Mr.. Nor
| ton was not careless, but doing his sim
PIE duty 1t is very sure that Mr.
Norton was doing his duty, as when he
! stfuck the pole he was in the only nos
slble position that he could be in order
| TO ADJUST the sander so that ii would
sand the tracks and render the passage
\ OF the car safe down Main street hill.
Whlch, without sand, is anything but
safe, on account of the leaves
/ Edward Calvin and Nettie Bliss both
testified to the way in which Mr.. Nor
ton met his DEATH both telling similar
| stories. Mr. Hill has taken the same
grounds that The Spy took two weeks
ago in regard to the blame. and which
the people of Spencer tonight think is
rlght-that is, that the town is to blame
for the popular young conductors
death.
Although the night was clustering
large number of young people assem-
bled in the town hall tonight to dance
to the music of Marie Crosses hurdy-
gurdy, right ON from Boston, From s
o'clock to S.45 Miss Crosse gave a de-
| lghtful concert, consisting principally
of tambourine solos and dancing. At
S.45 the grand march started, led bv
Walter Prouty of the Spencer Brass
Band (under whose direction the hurdy
gurdy party was given and wife, who
were followed by about 70 couples of
happy merry makers. At 8 o'clock
the dancing was commenced, and last
ed until l. The party was a great
success and netted a goodly sum for
the band boys. W. H Ratigan was
head floor director, his aids being all
the members of the band The com
mittee was composed of w. fl. Ratigan,
Walter and Joseph Hazlehurst, Albert
Plante and Harry Sargent
AT the selectmen's meeting last
night orders We're drawn .aggregating
$1,000, the three largest being 1852 80,
pay roll for the sewer, $685. 20 for fuel in
the public schools, and $9940, pay roll
for the highways.
The David Prouty high school foot
ball team put in its last final practice
this afternoon on the school campus,
in preparation for the game tomorrow
afternoon at Railroad Park, which the
local school boys consider the most inn
portant game of the season. The line
up for tonorrow's game was given out
i late tonight as follows: Vernon, left
end Calvin, left tackle Lowell, left
guard; Wheeler, centre: Mullett, right
guard; Reno, right tackle; Lee, right
end; Dermody quarterback; Hobbs
right halfback; Billiard, left halfback
| Ames. fullback Calvin has been
changed from guard to tackle, and Low
| ell. new find, is to play guard
The members of the Court MERCER
| Foresters of America, have completed
! their arrangements for a big carnival
which will take place the last week in
4 December in Mechanics hall The car
nival will last six nights and the For
esters hope to usher the old year out
and to see the new one in with a rous-
! Ing old send-off.
4 s.