The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-12-11

Mrs. Harriet P1ttman alleges that I
she has been made the victim of what |
is known in big industrial centers as
"the ambulance chaser" In other
words, while she was overwhelmed
with grief at the death of her hus-
band, who was killed in street car
accident, she was deluded into sign
ing release of all claims for dam
ages, thinking when she signed the
paper that she was merely signing
receipt for paltry 5000 ION account"
Mrs. Pittman's story is told in plain
| and simple language, and if she can
substantiate her claims there should
be some remedy at law.
| According to Mrs. Pittman, she was
duped by General Manager Humpe
into signing a release of the Traction
company. She says that while still
racked with anguish over the bereaye
ment, Hunape appeared at the stricken
home and told her of the close friend
ship that had existed between himself
and her dead husband, and of his
anxiety to "do something" for the
widow of his deceased friend. She
asserts without equivocation that at
no time did Humpe tell her she was
being offered a release, but on the con-
| trary had every reason to believe from
his line of conversation that his ac-
tion was prompted by sympathy and
friendship. She continues by alleging
that the 5000 was tucked under her
pillow, and she was asked to sign
what she thought was merely re-
ceipt for that amount of money 1t
was her understanding that at a later
date she could take up the matter of
adequate damages with the Traction
company officials. When she recov-
cred somewhat from the shock of her
bereavement she went to the Traction
company Office and started to submit
her case. Immediately her release"
was flashed upon her and she was
told that the company was under no
legal obligations to her. She then Of
fered to return the 5000 in exchange
for the release" but the offer was
refused.
Mrs. Pittman has instituted suit in
district court for damages, and in an
swer to the Traction company's claim
that it has release of damages she
files the above explanation of how the
company secured it.
Whether or not Mrs. Pittman's con
IN, in
ular case. it is we'll known fact that
transportation corporations have q
habit of working just that kind of a
deal. Let an accident occur which
convinced that it Is to blame, and i'm
mediately it has its most willy agents
set to work to secure release" o.
: damages. Especially easy is this lit
tie scheme when women are deal
with. What woman is able to trans
S act business when her husband lie!
e cold in death in the room, the victim
e of an accident, and she is left desc
e late, unproyided for and with no Ger
e tainty of future support for hersel
| SNNAA'
g that the willy, unctuous friend of th'
e family" appears and says he wants t.
II help. He represents the corporation
: it is true, but he was such a clos
e friend of the dead man, and he is will
e ing to strain point in this case ant
g help the stricken wife. Here is lit
tie bit of money to tide you over un
% til you can get settled down littl
o bit. Just sign this receipt for it, m.
5 good woman. 1t will help pay funera
do this, and the company would b
justly indignant if it knew did it; bu
t, was such a friend to your husban
4 and want to help you in your grea
trouble
Nine times out of ten the griel
E stricken and almost crazed widow vii
e grasp at the assistance SO kindly o.
e fered, sign receipt" for H-and the
'e find. when too late, that she ha
g, signed release in full of all damages
d that for paltry s10O or 5000 she ha
IL given up all legal claim for wha
N should be rightfully hers, two or thre
thousand dollars.
This sort of shell game is bein
worked every hour In the day in thi
land of the free I'm Mrs. Pittman'
n charges are true, and we have no res
ID son to doubt her. a little investlgs
n tion would doubtless disclose that sh
m is not the first one in Lincoln to b
is duped into signing away her rights
lie The ambulance chaser exists in Lii