The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-08
LADIES GRACE
FEDERAL COURT.
Slit of Miss Morgan Against
Old Dominion Steamship Com
pany Begins.
INJURY BY FALL FROM BERTH.
.---------
During a Severe Storm She Was
Thrown and In
jured.
INJURY BY FALL FROM BERTH

The United stnes Circuit, Court yester-
day began the trial OF a case OF great
interest, nnd one that promises to he
vigorously contested. It Is the ten thcu-
sand dollar damage suit instituted by
Miss Mamie Morgan Of Norfolk, against
the old Dominion Steamship Company,
for injuries sustained by her MS pas
senger on the compary's steamer prln-
cess Anne, while en- route from New
York to Norfolk. Tho plaintiff alleges
that the injuries from, which she has suf-
fcred and still suffers were due to the
negligence and failure OF the company to
provide proper berths and adequate pro-
lection TO passengers travelling IN its state
rooms. While q passenger on the Princess
Ammo during a violent storm, she alleges
that through defective construction OF
the boat water poured into the state
room. subjecting her to injury to health,
and TINT having no means OF retaining
her place in the berth, she was thrown
violently to the floor OF the state room
and sustoi med serious and permanent In
jures. In consideration of witch sho
asks $4,000 from the corporation.
Miss Morgan is n young and attractive
lady She was accompanied III The court
somewhat unusual spectacle in this court.
Miss Morgan was represented by mcguire
and Reilly as attorneys, while White,
Tunstnll and Wilcox, Of Norfolk. ar-
peared for the defendant An unusually
fine Jury had been secured for the trial,
Including several well known Richmond
citizens.
In Session All Day.
The court sat all day yesterday taking
testimony In the case. The evidence for
the plaintiff was concluded and that for
the defendant begun and almost con-
cluded. Tho star witness OF the day was
the plaintiff herself, who was subjected
TO trying ordeal In the long examination
and cross-examinatlon to which sho was
nubjected She made an excellent Wit
ness, answering all the questions fired ut
her BY tho opposing attorneys with COOL
ness and clearness. yet modestly and
quietly, without ever becoming ruffled
or confused by tho expert luDuioners
Miss Morgan told the story OF her stormy
and narrowing voyage graphically. and
from hor story 1t appears that she suf-
fered great hardship
An expert on steamboat construction
was put on the stand by the defendant to
establish the fact that the Princess Anne
Is constructed like other steamers, land
that 1t was through no fault OF constr,lc-
ton that the accident occurred. Mr.. Nc
CURE and Mr.. White, for the plaintiff
and defendant. respectively, had several
little lifts over.th admissiblllty of GER
tain lines Of questioning by Mr.. White,
who asked several questions which the
court ruled to be open to the objection
that they were leading questiops
The defense OF the, company Is. that
the accident of which Miss Morgan was
the victim was one to which any traveller
Is liable in such hurricane and tina
1t was due to no defect in the construc-
ton of the steamer. The PLAINTIFFS coun-
sci are endeavoring to establish the fact
that the berth had no side rail- by which
Its occupant could hold on while the ves-
sci was rolling and. pitching in the gala.
and that she could not have prevented
being thrown from the berth and thereby
sustaining the serious injury out 81
which the suit -taS4
Trial Of the case will be resumed to- 4
Day at which time the argument will be
had. IT is probable that a verdict may
be reached to-day.