The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-09-24
TROLLEY CO. LOSES.
Jury Renders Verdict for G. p.
Pfahler in the sum
of Sl,36S.
THE CASE HARD FOUGHT.

IN SoOS thot OSSooiohSN thS h'cos
general concern and the hardest
fought of the entire second week of
court, was that of c. P. Pfahler of
Catawissa VS.. the Columbia & Mon
tour Electric Railway Co. The
case was called before Judge New
comb, of Scranton, especially pre-
siding, Thursday afternoon. Re-
presenting the plaintiff were Judge
Herring, w. II. Rhawn Esq. and
c. c. Yetter Esq. while the defend
ant Company had as its counsel
District Attorney A. w. Duy aud
James Scarlet Esq. The plaintiff
claimed damages to the ain mount Of
SIS 900 for Injuries to himself and
horse sustained while crossing the
defendant Company tracks at what
is known as the Barton crossing a
short distance below town. An ac-
count of the accident has already
appeared in these columns, but we
will give it briefly again. 1t was
on the night of November 9TH last,
Pfahler was driving to Rupert.
| When he reached the Barton cross
ing he looked down the track to see
if any car was approaching, none
being in sight he proceeded to
cross. The horse was over, but
the wagon was still on the track
when car coming down struck it.
He was severely injured on his left
hip, left side and on the back OF his
head. The horse suffered even
worse, being injured 50 badly that
it died the next day. On the wit
ness stand the defendant stated that
the night was "black dark. 1t
was only between five and six
O. clock but Notwithstanding the
darkness was intense. He had OBJ
served the usual care, stopped,
looked and listened, but could see
or hear nothing. The car had no
head light, neither was the bell
rung to warn him Of the coming
danger. Since the accident he has
suffered great pain, does not average
over four hours sleep a night, is
very nervous, and any extra exer-
ton is accompanied by considerable
difficulty in breathing. His head
has panied him almost necessarily
and it appears to be growing worse
and his memory is affected. He
has been able to work but little
since the accident. His earnings
before the accident averaged about
s., 900 a year, but since he has
earned nothing.
DR.. Morrison Vastine, Of Cata-
wissa, testified to having attended
the plaintiff after the injury. Be
sides complaining of pain in the
head and left shoulder, he found
that a rib had been broken, which
he said pressed inward on the pleura
causing pain in breathing. re
treated him for nervousness, palpi-
tation of the heart, sleeplessness
pain and loss of memory. The
patients condition in the doctor s
opinion was such as might lead to
insanity or paralysis.
DR.. George +. Pfahler graduate
of the Medico Chirnrgical College
Philadelphia, testified He ex,
planned the defendants condition
f and the cause. The plaintiff s
afIliction he said is such as is usual
ly caused by fright, or narrow escape
, from some awful fate.
Mrs. Alice Pfahler, wife of the
, plaintiff, testified to the inability o
? her husband to attend to business
She said that he sits home and thai
, his condition is sad. She appeared
to be visibly affected and it wa:
with difficulty that she restrained
the tears.
Phillip Miller a director of the
t Catawissa National Bank, told o
. the plaintgs condition both before
and sinceNthe accident. He has
changed wonderfully. His former
} keen interest has disappeared, hi
: ambition is gone
Jerre Berninger an employee o.
| Mr.. Pfahlers S took the stand anc
/ explained the horses injuries. In
speaking Of his employers condl
p tion he said he never knew him tc
be i'll a day before the accident
Now he is dull and lorgetful, anc
the work that he used to assist IL
he never touches now.
George w. Houck of Catawissa
took the stand. He was on the cal
: when it struck Pfahler. The cur
, tains he said were drawn across the
: front of the car shutting OH the
light ahead. There was no head
light. The car was running last
and the bell was not sounded,