Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-25
GETS BIG DAMAGES
Jury in Circuit Court Allows
Peter Eidem S25, 1000 for
Loss of Both Legs
AGAINST THE ROCK ISLAND
Action Based on Accident at Moline
Depot a Year Ago Results in
Record Judgment.

damages for the loss of both legs in an
accident in Moline year ago, by the |
jury in the suit in the circuit court |
against the Rock Island, for $4,000. |
The judgment is the record amount
awarded in personal injury actions in
Rock Island county.
The trial was concluded yesterday af-
ternon. and the case given to the jury
before adjournment. The jury remain
ed out over night, returning the var-
dict of half of the amount sued for.
this morning when the court convened
again. The case has occupied the
| court for over week, and has been
carefully tried.
| Run Over by Engine.
| The suit was based on an accident
which occurred at the Moline depoC
Eden. who was then employed at the
Silvis transfer. as a trucker, was a pas
| senger on the train of an engine and
coach which the company operated
from Silvis to Rock Island for the EN-
ployes who worked until late in the
night. The train left Sivis at MID
night. 1t was the custom for the III IN
TO jump from the train at the depoIS
while the train was in motion, and M
Eden testified that he had never
known the train to stop at the depot
during the time he worked there. The
night of the accident he jumped from
the train, and stepped directly ia
front of an east bound switch engine
He was run over. and both legs ampl-
ltated by the wheels.
Claims of Company.
The railway company introduced ev-
dence to show that the accident occur
ed some little distance east of the de.
pot and that the men were not re
quired to jump from the train. TEST
mOny was introduced to the effect that
the train always stopped.
Mr.. Eden. who is favored by the
/, jurys verdict. is a young man, and
had been in this country but few
years when he came to Moline and Sc.
cured employment at Silvis. He had
worked at Silvis two months previous
10 the accident. Searle & Marshall
were his attorneys in the suit. while
Jackson. Hurst & Stafford appear Il
for the railway company.
4 Specific Findings.
In addition to fixing the amount of
!, the damages for the plaintiff, the jury
returned five specific findings, to the
effect that the plaintiff was not neg i
gent in alighting from the coach When
he did and in crossing the track TO the
depot. as he started to do. and that he
: exercised ordinary care. The jury also
5 reported that the jurors found that the
= engine which struck the plaintiff was
going at rate of speed greater than
: miles an hour as provided in the or
= dinances of Moline. and that the be-
2 was not ringing, as required by city
s regulations.
:, Another Against Company.
y The trial of the suit of julius De
K Meyers of Moline against the Rock Is
land for $4,000 damages for persona
injuries was commenced this morning
] and the taking of evidence commenced
this afternoon. The case is one il
II which the plaintiff alleges that he wa
injured at a Third street crossing il
\ Moline the evening of Nov. 80. 1905
n He was struck by an engine bein
e backed down from Silvis to Rock Is
1t land. The bill alleges that the engin
s. was going at a rate exceeding the {
mile an hour limit of the ordinances
> had no lights, and that the bell wa
not rung nor the whistle blown. as prC
= vided in the ordinances. s. r. KeI
worthy of this city and P. R. Ingleso
of Moline represent the plaintiff. an
Jackson, Hurst & Stafford the raiwa
company.