Evening journal., 1905-05-26
.LINEMAN SEEKS
$4,000 DAMAGES
Johnson Pulled From Pole by
a Wilmington City Trolley
Car
ROPE tNTANGLEl BY SUCTION

In the Superior Court today the case OF
George W. johnson who seeks to recover
damages from the wilmington City Rail-
way Company for injuries received, was
begun. Johnson is represented by ]. Har-
vey Whitoman and Judge -. r. Cochran.
Walter II. Hayes and Andrew c. Gray
are counsel for the railway company.
The amount Of damages asked is $4,000.
Judge Cochran I'm his opening address
to the jury stated that johnson was in
iured on or about February /, 1904 lie
was then employed as a iineman by the
Delaware and Atlantic Telephone and
Telegraph Company and with gang OF
men was working on Richardson's I'm
at which point the defendant company
operates its stanton line.
The judge stated that johnson was
about thirty feet up pole attaching
cross arms. lie had a hand line attached
to his right hand and part Of the rope
was lying on the ground. one of the de-
tendant company's cars, It was stated
came down the hill az such high rate
OF speed while johnson was up the pole
that Il caused a suction which pulled the
rope lying on the ground out on the car
track.
The rope In some manner became at
tached to the car and the llneman was
pulled from the pole. He fell on a rail
fence and was seriously Injured.
JOHNSON ON THE STAND.
Mr. johnson was the arst witness called.
He save his age as "a years and his resi-
dence as No. GO King street. He ex-
planned how the rope was attached to his
hand which he said was the custom with
iinemen when they 30 up a pole. He did
not know anything after he fell on the
fence until he was picked up by his COM
panions. He was removed to the Delaware
Hospital where he remained for seven
months and was operated upon several
times.
HIS SERIOUS INJURIES.
johnson said his injuries consisted Of
several broken ribs bruised stomach
three teeth knocked out leg broken an,
knee cap broken. He exhibited to thI
jury the INJURY TO his Lex, the bones o
which were crushed. lie stated tina
since leaving the hospital he has not bee
able to work az his trnde as iinemar
D but has done some work around the TelC
phone Company's Office
His expense bill at the hospital, d
s said. was s2ll, which was 81 a day for 2
o days.
DR. James A. Draper who was at n
s hospital the morning johnson was at
r mitted testified that the victim had
e compound fracture OF the left thigh N
bone having gone through the nesl
b bruises on the left side and about his fac
and broken knee cap. lie also said Thl
Z the patient was badly shaken up.
u Dr. John Palmer, who also attends
r Johnson at the Delaware Hospital. test
fed that the leg on which the knee ca
- was broken would always be stim.
= DR.. Howard Ogle. Or. Joseph T.. Wal'
n and Dr. James A. Diaper, Jr.. testihe
t as to the nature Of Johnson's injuries.
?. Willard Farra, a lineman who was wit
j. Johnson on the day he was hurt W,
n next called. He testified that he saw hl
y when he was pulled from The pole by n
rope.
Thomas Strong another lineman test
= fed that the car was running at the ra
Il Of about thirty-hve miles and hour.
% James b. Phillips, a railroad conducts
was called and was asked by Mr. Whit
man If a fast moving trolley car wou
create force which would draw 70 1t o.
iects nearby. The defendant counsel O.
iected to the question and the objecti,
\ was sustained by the court