The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-26
IS PARALYzEO
By FRIGHT
Mary McAvoy Loses Use of
Limbs; Hair Turns White
In A Night.
ASKS $4,000 DAMAGES
This Sum Prayed for in Suit Brought
By Woman Against P, Ft.
w. & C. r. R.

ParalyZed in all her limbs, her hair
turned from jet black 10 snowy white
in a single night-this is what Mrs.
Mary McAvoy of Toleston experienced
from a fright she received one day
last January by the passing OF a swift
~ moving train, which narrowly miss
ed running her down. and which. while
it never touched her, frightened her so
badly that she was rendered uncon-
scious for several hours and almost
cost her her life.
These facts are set forth in a declara-
tion that has been filed in the superior
court by Attorney William ]. McAleer
in behalf of his client. Mrs. Mary Nc
Avoy of Toleston. against the Pitts
burg, Fort Wayne and Chicago rail-
road. Damages in the sum of $50, 900
are asked by the plaintiff.
The suit involves a nice point IN
law, inasmuch as the plaintif was
never touched by the train which gave
her the shock resulting so disastrously.
What the Complaint Charges.
The declaration alleges, that on Jan.
10. 1907. she purchased ticket from
the agent at Toleston for transporta-
tion to Chicago. AS train of box
cars ODSlIuCleu neE view SnG ulG HOT
see an approaching passenger train
which was coming at the rate of forty
miles an hour and stepped on the
tracks. Just as she touched the
tracks another woman who saw the
approaching train pulled the plaintift
to one side just as the speeding train
rushed by. Only tho prompt action OF
the woman IN pulling Mrs. McAvoy out
of harms way saved her life.
| After the narrow scape Mr.. Nc
Avoy tainted and was removed to hei
/ home, near Toleston, where medica
aid was called Restoratiyes were an
/ Piled to the unfortunate woman am
she was still trembling from the effect
Of the scare.
Wakes to Find Hair White.
The physician in charge gave her
sleeping potion to quiet her nerves
In the morning when Mrs. McAvo!
awoke she found both her arms, he
shoulders and left leg were paralyze,
and she was unable to move them
Upon looking into a mirror near he
bed she was nearly overcome when sh
saw that her hair, which formerly wa
jet black, had turned to snowy white
Inc second SnOck was almost a
great as the previous one had beer
Calling for help, friends came into tn
room and were nearly overcome whe
they saw Mrs. McAvoy. Some coul
hardly believe it was she
Mrs. McAvoy. who is a widow an
who has an aged mother and littl
child to support, is heart broken a
the realization that she will always b
cripple.
Those who are acquainted with tn
circumstances of the case are firm /
their belief that she Will recover tn
amount asked for.
The plaintiff blames the company o
account of the absence of the fiagmal
who was no where near the tracks, aC
cording to the complaint, to warn pass
ing pedestrians of the approaching pas
senger train. The fiagman, it is rel
resented, should have done this. cor
sidering the fact that another freigl
train blocked the crossing, obstructin
the view.
l The case, which is one Of the mo'
sensational filed this year. will l
watched by hundreds of people in Il
3 vicinity of Gary and Toleston whe1
Mrs McAvoy is well known. The ca!
will come up in the September term
the Lake superior court.