The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-05-11
CORK LEGS so WELL MADE NOW THAT $500 VERDICT
FOR BABY'S LOST LEG IS TOO MUCH, SAID JUDGE

NEWARK, N. j., May 11.-Dor-
othy McDermott Is only years
old, but the tiny cork leg she
wears in place of the one that was
cut off by a Newark streetcar
may, figuratively, be used to kick
a Judge off the supreme bench of
the state.
All the union men OF the state,
and a good many other people,
too, are signing petitions demand
ing that Justice Chas. Garrison be
removed by Gov. Fort from the
supreme court bench because he
said, after jury had given a YER
dict in Dorothy's favor:
"This verdict Of $500 is too
high. The jury did not take into
consideration the great improve
ment in cork legs"
Mrs. McDermott, Dorothy's
mother, sat on the back porch and
watched the children playing in
the back yard, as she told the
story. Little Dorothy stood off to
one side, watching them, too.
1T happened a year ago." said
Mrs. McDermott. Some of the
children came running in and
shouted out that Dorothy had been
killed under a streetcar. Then a
man came around the corner, car.
rying Dorothy. Her left leg was
gone and the doctors hardly saved
her life"
Just here little Dorothy came up
limping and interrupted her
mother.
Mamma. take it off, won't you?
1t hurts me SOL"
But YOU must learn to walk WIN
It," replied the mother, tenderly.
But it hurts, mamma" an
swered Dorothy.
Let me see" said the mother.
She bent down over her baby girl
and in a moment she gave a little
cry of pity.
why, it's all red and raw" she
said. 'T'll take it off"
And she unstrapped the wonder
full cork limb which the justice,
who wouldn't take $4,000 apiece
for his honorable legs, had praised
SO highly.
Dorothy hoped away on one leg
to a clothes pole in the middle of
the yard and leaned against that
to watch the children jump rope.
She's worn that for months
now, but it hurts her yet said
Mrs. McDermott. Then she con-
tinued her story:
I'VE found out that it was all
the motorman's fault. He didn't
even slacken the speed of the car,
and when we took the case to trial
there was no doubt of the com
pany's guilt.
1T was only a question of how
much a little girls leg was worth.
Dorothy is so bright and smart
that she was able to tell great
deal about the accident, and she
helped her own case.
THE jury said that she ought to
have $500, because some day
when she has grown to be wom-
an the loss of her leg would be a
greater affliction to her.
The streetcar company took the
case up to the supreme court, and
Judge Garrison granted the COM
pdly dnOtlleT tIidl.
HE said that cork legs we're SO
we'll made these days that $500
was too much to pay for any hu-
PEI man leg.
b.. 1--WE had another trial and the
jury found the company guilty
again, but this jury, because of
what the judge had said, had to
cut the verdict down almost one
half"
AS Mrs. McDermott talked we
watched Dorothy trying to Jump
rope" with the other girls. She
hoped four times over the rope
and then stopped. 1t was pititable.
The rest Of her body was strong
and 1.-the, but no little girl, no
r matter how strong she is, can play
on one leg.
We saw the girls drop the rope
and run to her. She was crying.
The mother ran out to her and
lifted her in her arms. There
were tears in her eyes, too.
Poor little girl she said
You're too tired"
I'm not tired, mamma. but my
leg hurts" said Dorothy, with her
arms about her mothers neck.