Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-26
READY FOR JURY.
Case Of Finn vs.. N. E.
Tel. & Tel. Co.
Evidence Completed, Friday
and Arguments Made.
Other Important Cases to Come. This
Term.

| Inc case of Edward Finn VS.. the
New England Telephone and Telegraph
60, was resumed in the supreme iu-
! dIclal court. Friday morning, before
Justice Whitehouse The hearing
proved exceptionally interesting during
tile days proceedings and WIS largely
attended by lawyers and other Spec
tators. verdict in the case will be
reached. this morning. provided the
jury ma 1t smooth sailing in reviewing
th' various phases OF the evidence.
| The hearing was resumed at 10
O'Clock. William Dell was recalled 70
| the stand aud continued his story of
| the incidents that happened on the af-
telnoon of August "A. 1893. He ex-
| planned in detail tn. process of tieing
4 rome on Il cable Wire so as to keep
/ up the slack and thus keep the cable
| from coming IN contact with live
| wires. The witness also retold of 60
ing to Mr.. Firms assistance on the
next pole. AS they were pulling the
Wire over the yard arm witness heard
, Nh Finn make AN incoherent exclama-
! ton and looking around he saw him
/ fail backward. Witness then went
down the pole and held Finn up until
Mr. Blaine came up the pole ana put
his shoulder under Finn. This relieved
witness. who then procured Il rope, tied
it underneath Mr.. Firms arms and
lowered him TO the ground. Procuring
blankets the injured man was wrapped
| up and Was latter taken to the Au-
gusta City hospital. 1t was at the wit
ness suggestion that someone tele-
phoned for Il physician.
The witness was severely crOSS-eX-
amined by Attorney Williamson rela-
tive TO conversation about the accident
with Il Mir. Jacobs. general superin-
tendent of construction for the New
England Telephone and Telegraph co.
He could not state definitely having
any such conversation, although ne
| could not deny the fact.
The next witness called was Harold
| b. Shorcy of Belfast. Mr.. ShOrey is
at the present time employed in a shoe
! factory in Belfast. but was during the
summer Of 1903 engaged with the tel
| ephOne company as ground man.
Aideu by numerous questions by the
| defendants counsel he told of his va
ried work and duties in the employ of
the company up to the day of the ACCT
dent. According to the witness, the
crew on this fateful day had worked
down Capitol street to its intersection
with State street. In regard to how
| Finn received the shock. he told OF
seeing the cable come in contact with
| the wire Of the kennebec Light and
| Heat co. He heard 9 swapping noise
| and SAW a ball of fire ut the intersec-
| ton of the wires. Realizing trouble ne
pulled uD the slack in the cable and
tying it securely around the wire arm.
went to the scene of the accident. Fur
! Their than this Mr. ShOrey's testimony
| was practically identical with the pre-
| vious with. sses for the defence
| Ralph Thurston a foreman in the
telephone company. living in Water
vile was called. Mr.. Thurston at the
| time of the accident. was foreman OF
the crew in which the plaintln was
| working. In regard to the accident It
| self. he knew nothing anymore than
what he had heard. His testimony con-
sisted principally in explaining the uu-
ties of the foreman of crew OF ili'e-
men, According to his testimony
foreman was not supposed 10 notli!
any of mis- men whether or not the
wires with which they came IN con
tact. are charged. In his case he felled
upon the discussion OF ms men. III an
sWer to a question as to whether II Was
his practice to have the power smut
off on lines with which his men would
come IN contact i'll the course OF thelr
work. he said it was not. On the alter
noon Of Aug. "a. 1868. he left the scene
of his labOrs in time to eaten Ifelsh'
,,,in fo, his home in Waterville. Thus
b, was not present at the accident.
This he did in order to get to MS nome
early ana in response to questlohs' saiu
that the men would prosecute the work
inst the same as il he were there. III
his absence.
BEING cro,s-uuestiCned as to whetn-
or he had returned to Augusta on the
night Of Aug. -. 1909, and going TO a
local newspaper office to have the news
supnressed in regard to the accident,
he derie.i the fact. Further he admit
tod that the men We're questioned by
an official of the company. me morning
following the accident.
caorge O. Hunt. another lineman in
tna emrlov of the New England Tel
.nhme and Telegraph Co. testihed 10
bic exper,ence in the employ OF the
compan,. The facts as brought out Ds
counsel we're in the main corroporh-
ton of the testimony of previous VII
n.sses for the defence.
The next witness was Dr. W. ..
Thompson. a practicing physician 0.
this city. He hurried to the secene on
The accident. Immediately after re-
,eiving a telephone message. He ar
rived lust as Mr.. Finn was belne
lowered from the top Of the pole WIZ
,sss dressed Mr.. Firms wounds ana
hnrns. and it was under his care tnat
the plaintiff was at the City hospital.
Mr.. Finn was at the hospital some two
weeks. and was hardly able to be sent
home at that time. but DR.. Thompson |
allowed him to 60 to his home in Els
worth, on be ng assured that the plain-
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