Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-29
Run Down by Motorman on Oak. vile Line-Two Women in Team Injured Wagon
 Damaged and Con- tents Scattered.


 pened since the strike started occurred this morning on the Watertown road, near the Methodist church building, when MT and Mrs G. R. Benjamin and Miss Hayden, Mrs Benjamin's sister, residents Sof Woodbury, had a close call for their lives, Mir Benja- min is farmer and has been making regular trips into Waterbury on Thursday for many years supplying customers with eggs, butter and other articles They were figuring on dis posing of their stock early to-day so as to have time to do some shopping and reach home before dark when all their plans were dashed to pieces by a trolley car which struck the team a stunning blow, upsetting it and hurl- ing the occupants and their goods in- to the street. MT Benjamin escaped without any serious injury, but the women didn't fare so well, Mrs Ben iaminN suffering a dislocation Of the shoulder and several contusions. Her sister came, out of the mix-up with a Eprained thumb and some contusions. The injured parties were brought to Dr Pomeroy's office and the wagon was turned over to Mr Sunderland Mrs Benjamin told Democrat report CT that she knew nothing about the damage to the wagon or anything else. All she could tell was that the trolley car hit the team. She is a large, cheerful appearing woman and although suffering great pain bore up under the ordeal without making much complaint Some people who claim to have witnessed the accident place the whole blame upon the man in charge of the car, but whether this is so or not is something which it would be manifestly unfair to pass up on in a newspaper article at this stage of the, proceedings It is cer- tain that MT Benjamin is good citi- zen, not in any way connected with the strike, and wanted nothing but the privilege of driving into town. It is not unreasonable to presume, too, that he knows how to drive. It might not be bad plan for the company to look into the complaints of reckless doings on the part of the men now in the employ of the trolley company, for no matter what people may think
 
 more than fair to MT Sewell to say that 1t is not at all likely he would tol- crate such conduct as is being attrib- uted to the new men if he knew 1t to be true.
 The company has been in hard luck during the past few days so far as ac' cidents are concerned. Last evening two or three occurred; glass was broken in two cars since Monday, one broke its axle Monday evening, ano this forenoon the Naugatuck car NO ~ came to town about 11:20 with it's bear ing broken. Only with the greates care it was taken to the barn. Inese accidents may be of no moment, put their frequency since the strike begaI is peculiar.
 Motorman Hinley, who was in charge Of the car that ran off the tracks al McConnell's curve Monday evening and broke the front axle, was das charged yesterday, thus confirming tht strikers statement that the acciden was caused by the mans carelessness or ignorance in handling trolley car His discharge also removes all douD that there were no stones or "bould ers7 on the tracks.
 A change has been found necessary in the date for the sacred concert fol the benefit of the strikers. 1t was thought at first to hold it week iron next Sunday evening in Polls theafer Inasmuch as another concert wa booked for the same night in City hal IBy the Gaelic society 1t was though best to postpone the affair for on' week The tickets as printed for Feb ruary will be used, however They will be put in circulation to-day. Al union men should get them from, thei delegates to the Central Labor union All the strikers will also handle then and a lively demand is anticipated Many who have TO ready means Q contributing small sums to the weekl' fund will and this m excellent method of helping along the men who are de manding fair treatment. < specia meeting of fhe Central Labor nniol will be held tomorrow night. at whicl large atteneanee Is expected