Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-27

ned tNat Tor l6 years he was a motor
man on the Electric Road. He went to
the scene of this accident. He saw Mo-
torman Robbins, who was living on a
cot bed on lawn He stayed with
Roopins until the ambulance arrived
and also came to the city with Rob-
pms. Robbins muttered and wanted to
know If he Robbins) was responsible
for the accident. Witness had known
Robbins for Is wears and he would say
that he was as healthy as the average
man. He saw nothing in Robbins
condition to indicate that he was ply.
sically unfit to perform the duties of a
motorman. He did not remember of
riding on car of which Merton Tay.
lor was the motorman
The witness testified on cross-eXam-
nation that he did not examine the
controller Of the car on the day of the
accident. Judson G. Knight of Angus
ia testified that he had been employed
on the line for the Electric Railroad
He had seen Merton Taylor driving a
car at fast rate of speed
Frank Douglass Of Hallowell testified
that he had noticed Merton Taylor
driving car fast around curves and
down grades. Witness admitted on
crcss-examination that he knew MOTH
ing OF the rates of speed
A. G. Pinkham of East Winthrop tes-
tilted that he had ridden on electric
cars of which Merton Taylor was the
motorman. He reported to Mr.. Tay,
lor, the SUPERINTENDENT of the road and
father of Merton Taylor. that the young.
man drove cars at fast rate of speed
The witness testified on cross-eXam-
lnation that he had made complaints
against other motormen besides Mer-
ton Taylor
Charles H. Staples of Manchester tes-
titled that he was formerly employed
as conductor on the Electric Road
and he had occasion to report Merton
Taylcr for fast driving Mrs Maud A.
Smith of Everett, Mass, testified to
hearing a conversation between her
husband and Superintendent Taylor in
which her husband told Superintendent
Taylor that he was injured while get
ting off car by the car starting too
quickly, and Merton Taylor was the
motorman en- the car
Mrs. Robbins, wife of OSceolar Rob-
bins, the injured motorman, testified
that her husbands nervous system had
been greatly impaired by the accident
He began to suffer spasms after he re-
turned from the hospital and these
spasms increased in frequency
Attorney Maher--"Dd your husband
use intoxicating liquor?"
Witness-"TIe did not use it in any
form"
Did he use tobacco?'
HE did not
Where does your husband complain
of the most pain since the accident?"
On the left side of his head
Daniel P. Hanson of Augusta testi-
fed that he had known Osceolar Rob-
bins, the plaintiff, since 1882. Robbins
had worked haying fer the witness
eight or 10 summers
Attorney Maher-"What would you
say his general health was?"
Witness-"Perfect. He was the best
man l ever hired in the bayfield,"
Attorney Heath-"Did he ever com
plain of headache?"
He never did
Joshua G. Robbins, father of Osceolar
| Robbins, was the next witness called
Witness was IS. His father lived to be
| SIS and his mother rs His wife's mother
WAS alive at the age of IS. His sons
mother was alive at the age of IS. His
sons health was good previous to the
| accident. Plaintiff drove team and did
general farm work for the witness His
| son was not of nervous disposition
and never had spasms previous to the
accident.
| Attorney Maher did you ever hear
of his having sick headaches"
| Witness-"Once or twice but he was
moi subject to them
| Attorney Ueath-"HOW much a year
did you pay your son on an average for
| the past six yearS?'
| Witness-'I should say 500 a year.
| DR.. Wellington johnson of Augusta
| testified that he attended Osceolar
| Robbins on the day of the accident
Found him lying on a cot Plaintiff
| vomited several times while he was
| there. Witness found a cut on Robbins
| head and bruises on his left side. Rob-
bins was taken to the hospital and his
wounds dressed He remained at the
hospital a week. Part of that time he
| appeared to be conscious and part of
| the time he did not The principal
| wound was a badly lacerated one on
| the left side of the head. The external
area of the skull was injured. After
| Robbins went home witness attended
| him at his home for about a year.
| Attorney Maher-"How long have
| YOU known Mr. RobbinS?"