Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-24
BY LIVE WIRE.
CONTINUED from page -

Blaine residence. He was ordered by
his foreman. Mr.. Thurston, to climb
this pole. cut the old cable and guard
wire, which was to be replaced. He
stopped, lighted his pipe had a short
talk with one Mr.. Dill who was to
| work With him on the next pole, across
State street. Then he started up the
pole. He carried out instructions as
far as possible. and was drawing the
new cable up. when he received
shock from the live wire of the Ken
nebec Heat & Light Co. This was
the last Mr.. Finn knew until the next
morning, when he became conscious,
about o'clock. He remained in the
City hospital where he was taken, TOT
two weeks and three days. He was
then taken to his home in Ellsworth.
Since that time Mr.. Finn has been uh-
able to perform his previous laDors'
and is more or less broken in health.
He received from the live wire severe
burns on his left leg and shoulder anu
both wrists, besides wounds on sca'P
and check. The burn on the shouider
was extremely severe as could De seen
by the scar on Mr.. Firms shoulutr-
which, was displayed to the gaze OIL the
iury. The witness told the court OF
his general nervous condition and of
| the times when he goes through the
horrors of the accident in ms dreams.
In cross examination the counsel TOT
the defence introduced an exhibit OF IA
section of the cable, and another OF
| the guard wires. At his request 'hc
plaintiff explained the construction ana
uses of these wires. which with others
will he introduced as silent evidence
at the conclusion of the hearing. Court
o.,iourned Mt 12.30 until o'clock. At
the resuining Of the hearing in the
afternoon the cross examination of Mr..
Finn was continued. but little III the
| way of now facts We're disclosed
Warren W. Selby of FarminSd;ile an
| electrician was the next witness exam
ined As a man OF experience in cleo
| tric;,I work. Mr.. Sclby was calle''
| upon to explain the duties of Il lore
man on a telephone line. toward ms
men. He explained that it WAS lhe
| duty of Il foreman. to always noun! tie
| men under him. in case of close pfoH-
| unity of highly charged wires OF other
comnanies Of the danger. otherwise
the men could consider themselves
resonably safe from danger. inns
was the extent of Mr.. Selbys teStl-
mony.
Mr.. Finn was recalled and identified
| a piece of wire in use as telephone
wire on Capitol street at the time OF
the accident This was labelled as eX-
| hibit = and was introduced and ac-
| ceDted as evidence by the court. after
which the plaintiff rested the case.
The defence in the opening argument
| bv Attorney Norman l.. BaSSett out
| lined "A summary Of the evidence which
they were to produce. This will tend
| to show neglect on the part of the
| plaintiff. in not guarding hlmSeir
against the dangers likely to be en-
countered in working near live wire.
William Dell lineman in the en-
rloy of the New England Telephone
and Telegraph Company was the first
witness called by the defence. He told
of his previous experience in the work
OF lineman and of meeting Mr.. Finn
when both We're in the employ of the
Western Union Company as ground
men.
Then he continued to tell Of his ex-
II pprlellce up 10 lne time OF tile icclutll.
According to the testimony the crew
| worked down Capitol street until near
| the residence of the late Hon. James
G. Blaine. Here Finn started to climb
the pole at the intersection of State
| and Capitol streets. and the witness
| Went to the next pole. They We're to
work together in pulling over the cable
| wire.
| At this point the witness was called
| upon to identify the exhibits of sec
tions of wire. already referred to. on
going up his pole and after adjusting
rope to the wire to be pulled over, wit
ness claimed that Mr.. Finn called to him
to assist in pulling the wire over from
| his pole. The witness left the rope in
the hands of one Mr.. ShOrey and went
TO Firms assistance. According to the
formers version they had pulled over
some Is feet of wire when Mr.. Finn
received a shock and dropped his hold.
At this point court adjourned at $40
O'Clock to allow several members of the
| jury to catch trains to their homes.
| The session of the court will be re-
sumed Friday morning at 10Oclock.