The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-07-08
TEL ANsTED BURK co. spTinafsId. Q.
EXPLANATIO N
Asked for BY the Father Of the Boy In
jured on the Street Car July 4
I43 Locust Street,
Clarksburg July 6, 1908.

GlarksbuTg July Q, 1908.
Editor Telegram, City.
Sir. In connection with the accident
which has -nearly caused the death of
the boy, Joseph L. Wiley, I would like
to ask if the officers Of the street car
company in this town consider them
selves such high and mighty personages
that flley cannot use the commonest
amenities Of decency TO come or send and
make inquiry as to the extent of the
injuries sustained.
Does the so-called Superintendent
Leonard think that it would have been
derogatory to his dignity to have exer-
cised an atom of sense, to say nothing
of courtesy; when he passed the boys
father on the Elk Creek bridge, on the
evening of the accident, that he did not
even condescend to ask how the boy was,
nor take the slightest notice of the mat
ter Whatever. / presume that it did not
occur to his shallow brain pan that the
interest of his company demanded that
he should do this, nor yet that it would
have been dictated to anyone with less
brain than what he, in his coneeit, thinks
me is endowed with.
Evidently Conductor Merrill considered
his duty well done when he collected
the fare, and then allowed his Passen-
gers drunk or sober) to take care OF
themselves, notwithstanding that he
knew the dangerous proximity of those
trolley poles to the running boards OF
the cars. He did not even think it nee
essary to warn his passengers, and it is !
clearly the duty of the company to pro-
Iibit the cars being 50 packed that it is
necessary for any one to ride there. Pre-
sumably the company is too anxious 20
capture the s'nimble nickel" to care
rush for the safety of its passengers
While it may have been difficult to stoPl
the car Immediately on a down grade,
WHY did not the conductor come back
to find out the extent of tIle damage,
more especially when he knew who the |
boy was, and that the accident was by
etn Infringement of the company's own
rule as to intoxicated men being taken
on the cars. Doubtless the company
viii bring up the old gag of "contribu-
tive negligence" when the proper time
comes, burt it will not hold in the pres
emit case. as, the evidence will show
Fortunately for the boy land the com
pany. too. for that matterl NIotorman
S. II. Huffman on the following car was
able to stop in time to prevent running
over the boy lying insensible on the
track. and too much praise cannot be
given to Conductor Michael Leyden for
his presence of mind and cool-headedness
in emptying his car 70 his passengers, and
hurrying the boy to his home, where
medical treatment was obtainable. Graf
itude in the highest sense is also due to
the s.old nanny who stuck to the
injured boy until he was put in his
mothers arms, and it will be my busi-
ness to find out who She was and thank
her accordingly.
1t would be advisable, in my humble
position, for this street car company to
adopt some of the business methods OF
like company's in the larger cities in
cases such as the one now under consid-
Grafton, and it would be well for the
citizens and parents of Clarksburg to
see to it that more stringent measures
be taken to safeguard the lives and limbs
Of passengers, whether young or old.
Three or four casualties of the same
kind or nearly so, in one day, show gross
careIessness on the part of the company
and Incompetence and thorough contempt
for life and limb on the part of its Of
icers and employees.
1T is up to the company to explain lit
it CAM the reprehensible conduct OF its
officers in the present case.
Yours truly,
c. A. WILEY,
Father of the Injured Boy.