Evening journal., 1899-11-17
ENGINE NO. 1878
KILLED SPRINGER
Case Against B. 4 0. Railroad
in United States Court
This Morning.
ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN 1897

PANY FOR THE DEATH OF HIS
SON, LOSS OF HIS HORSE AMI
DAMAGE TO WAGON.
United States Circuit Court opened in
the Federal building at IL o'clock this
1orning, Judge Bradford on the bench.
when the case OF John A. Springer VS.
the receivers of the B. & o. railroad
was taken up.
All the jurors were present when
lClerk Mahaffy called their names.
The defendant company, represented
/ by Messrs. Bird and Sanborn, chal-
lenged but one juror while the plain
tiff, represented by Senator Higgins
and William Harvey, of Delaware coun-
| ty. Pa, objected TO three of the tails
men. William N. Candy was the first
Juror called, but he was excused by
Judge Bradford on account of being in
terested indirectly in the b. & o. rail-
road. Five Of the jurors in the present
case were on the jury that tried the
case of Donahoe VS.. the B. q o. railroad
some days ago, and rendered a verdict
for the defendant.
Mr.. Higgins outlined the case by
stating that it was a claim for dam
ages made by John A. Springer. OF
Chester. Pa, against the b. & o. rail
road. That on the evening OF October
25, 1897; John A. Springer, Jr., aged
13 years, son of the plaintiff. while
driving his fathers wagon. in com
about the same age, was struck
l. Nanr n
road train on a pirate crossing near
FELTON, station. on the B. & o. road.
Mr.. Higgins also stated that the
plaintifi would show that the train
which was a north-bound Washington
lexpress, was proceeding at the rate
of sixty miles an hour when the acci
occurred; that no warning whistle wa
blown until the train was on the team
land that it was impossible to observe
the approaching train on account of in
| tervening hills. Mr.. Higgins asleI
that his client be awarded damages 70
the loss Of the services of his son unit
the time he would have reached ma
turity and also for the loss Of hi
horse and damage to the wagon an
harness.
George A. Stillwell was the first wit
mess called. He stated that he was !
years Of age. and resided on Yves
Third street this city. That on III
levening of October 25. 1897. about
lo'clock, he, in company with John A
lSpringer, had come down from Cheste
to the Larxin's farm, procured severa
cans Of milk. and were returning whei
, they were struck by the train. The
had stopped to look for trains at tn
lcrossing, but saw none. The night wa
7 lrainy. and the engineer of the trai
/, did not ring the bell The number q
the engine that struck the team wa
T 1913 Stillwell stated that he knee
L nothing after he was struck until h
found himself hugging a telegraph poll
He did not even know that Syringe
had been killed.
Upon cross-examination by Mr.. BirI
= lStillwell stated that he looked mort
e for an approaching train, but not
!. he south. the direction in which th
Win came from which caused the acc
dent. Had he looked south he coul
4 have had a clear view for nearly
u nile.
e Edmund A. Howell. civil enginee
d residing in Chester, was the next wi
tness called. He exhibited photograph
and drawings of the scene of the acc
dent, which were made by himself.
Court took a recess at I o'clock III
Fltil 230 this afternoon. All jurors NJ
lempaneled in this case were discharge
, until November 27.