Evening journal., 1901-06-06
STRATTNER SUIT
IS INTERESTING
Lawyers in Suit Engage in
Many TiliS
DEFENSE OPENS ITS CASE
Local Superintendent Says The Meter
Box and Switch Board We're
Modern Appliances
DEFENSE OPENS ITS CASE

Frequent tilts among interested coum-
sci in the Stratnrr damage suit char
actcrizcd yesterday afternoons trial of
the case.
The first witness called in the after
noon was Irvine Stetser who was an cm-
ploye of the electric light company at
the time Strattncr was injured. lie said
he had been appointed TO instruct Strait
ner in his duties. He never told Strait.
ner TO use gloves ON the switch by which
his hands were burned, and never knew
OF the danger there. A statement made
10y Stetser 10 Harvey Is. Nandcgrift
shortly after the accident to Strattncr
was put in evidence by the defense.
Miss Nellie LeCarpentier aud Miss
Hendrickson, nurses who attended the
hoy at the Delaware Hospital, testified
To the pain he suffered, ms result Of
his injuries
Mr.. Weaver called G. Reginald Van
Trump, manager of the electric light
works to testify to switches mounted ON
a board when had been made an exhibit
in the case. Mr.. Van trump snid they
were the switches or meters by which
Stratiner had been iniur, Mr.. Van
Trump said that so far as he knew, no
change had been made in the switches.
although they might have been mude
without his knowledge
Edward r. kellar an expert electrical
engineer, of Philadelphia was called 10
the stand. and was handed the exhibit
Of switches by Mr. Weaver He was
asked If they were insulated properly.
and a quihhle between the attorneys en-
sued over the regularity of the question.
Ii was finally admitted. and Mr.. Bloom
ingtOn noted an exception. II find an
intent to insulate in the rear" said Mr..
kellar. pointing To the switch. III il
had been done properly there would have
been no current in front and il would
have been safe TO handle"
Later in the examination, he said that
anyone familiar with the meter even if it
were charged might easily place his
thumb on the rods and get shocked. The
only proper way would be to have the
whole front Of the switch Of insulated
material
Mr.. Kellar said he had completed the
electrical engineering course at the Uni
yersity Of Pennsylvania. and also had
studied in Hanover. Germany. lie WIS
severely cross-examined 10y Mr.. Blooom-
ingion. who got into several tilts with
Mr. Weaver. The witness said he never
had seen switch or meter like that in
evidence. His testimony was based ON
his examination OF the switches. He
said e had examined many Of the elec-
tric light plants in the East but was re-
fused admittance 10 the plant of the
Wilmington City Electric Company.
Many members of the New Cost.e
county bar were attracted to the cOu9.
room this morning by the trial They
found much interest in the proceed
ings.
The witnesses examined by the plain
tiffs in closing the direct examination
were Sarah A. Strattner. me her Of the
plaintiff. Samuel N. Knox gave testl-
mOny based on insurance tables Of the
probable life Of a boy the age Of Strait
ner. by which process the earnings OF
a man are judged. and Samuel ID. Lock.
an electrical engineer. of Philadelphia,
called as an expert, who testified that
called as an expert, testified that
the particular switchboard by which
the plaintiff was injured was insuni-
ciently insulated
G. Reginald Van Trump. superintend-
ent Of the defendant cCmpany's plant.
was the first witness called by the de-
fenEe. He said that before strattncr
was appointed meter boy. he told the
witness that he was competent 20 do
the work The switchboard was SINH
lar To the ones in use i'm all electrical
establishments was properly insulated
and perfectly safe.