The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-16
Victoria Tailor's Damage Suit
Before Judge Jacobs.
INJURIES RECEIVED.
PIainti2 Fell From the Rosaie's
Have Damages, Because He Was
Hart and His Business Suffered
Smuggling Trip 10 Vnited states.

The $1,000 damage suit brought oy
Robert Croft, the Victoria tailor. against
the Northwestern Steamship Company at
last came to trial yesterday morning be-
fore a jury In Judge Jacobs court. The
damages asked for are for injuries and
losses sustained by the slipping OF the
gang plank OF the steamer Resale. while
tied up at the Arlington dock. By which
Croft fell into the bay and was injured.
Some very interesting testimony was
brought out during the examination OF
Croft. The defense claim that they viii
be able 10 prove that Croft was engaged
in smuggling ard is not entitled TO re-
cover damages for loss of an Illegal bust
ness. They also claim that the steamer
Lydia Thompson was responsible for the
accident and not the Rosalie.
Shortly before midnight on October /,
1886 Croft. who had been In the city on
a business trip. went down TO the Airing
ton dock. intending TO board the Resale
and return home. According TO his testi-
mony he went out on the wharf and start
ed across the gang plank. which. while
apparently safe. was insecure. The plank
slipped and threw him violently into the
water. He went under and on coming 10
the surface swan TO pile, IN spite OF
the fact that the gang plank struck his
spine. as he claims. and injured HIM he
chung TO the pile until he was pulled on
board the boat. He continued his trip TO
Victoria. attended by what he calls the
bedroom steward" who was really the
bartender.
After careful examination 1t was dis
covered. ii is claimed. that one of Mr..
Croit's ribs was broken close TO the spine
and that his spine was badly injured. He
Was in bed for six weeks and suffered
great pain. according to his story. He
sued for damages In the sum Of SIC 600.
OF this amount 81, 600 Is for permanent
injury and suffering: sl.0o0 is for the loss
caused by the closing of his Victoria store
during his illness. For the two months
he was unable TO work he asks $500 The
EXPENSES incidental 10 his ilinesa makes
up the remainder OF the $4,000.
Tailor Croft occupied the stand In the
trial of the case yesterday. He was
very hard witness TO manage. and Judge
Jacobs had 10 repeatedly tell him to an
swer questions and then explain" On
certain things he had a bad memory. S.
II. Piles, counsel for the defense. tried 10
bring out the fac; that Croft had not paid
duty the suits OF clothes which he
brought here from Victoria and sold.
Croft claimed that he had paid the duty,
but would not go into detail.
Then Attorney Piles took up the bed
room steward matter and bothered the
witness for time by pointed questions
Croft said that the man had told him he
was bedroom steward" Witness said
he did not knoy that the man waas the
bartender. He said that ne had never
heard OF any one before holding the post
ton ef bedroom steward but supposed
the man knew his own job"
Mrs. Croft. fine looking English lady.
followed her husband on the stand In
giving her testimony she was very precise
She also told . story on the bedroom
steward and related in detail how her
husband had suffered from his fall
The defense will attempt 10 prove today
that as Croft stepped on the gang plank
the steamer Lydia Thompson. which had
just made fast 10 the Resale gave a Jerk
which pulled the Rosalie from the wharf.
letting Croft and the gang plank into the
water. The defense VIII have a number
Of witnesses and the case will not 20 TO
the jury until this afternoon.