The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-12-14
BUCK DISMISSES
CRIMINAL CHARGES

In an effort 10 get the cases bound
over TO the Circuit Court, Albert ).
Hall, local manager of the Pacific
Power & Light, on an alleged criminal
destruction of property preferred char
ges against I. r. Verco, a lineman,
and Charles W. Gill, line foreman of
the Hydro Electric Co., last Friday.
However, after listening to the wit
resses. Justice Of the Peace A. {.
Buck in a few words dismissed the
complaint. The case created great
deal of interest and the City Hall,
where the trial was held, was filled to
overflowing.
The line of the Hydro Electric Co.,
for a great distance along the country
road, parallels that of the Pacific
Power & Light Co. At the Indian
Greek bridge but short distance from
the city limits the Hydro Company
found it necessary, according to the
testimony in order to clear the lines of
its competitors, to erect poles 65 feet
in height. While making ready to set
these long poles on the day before
Thanksgiving, a guy-rope fell across
the Pacific Power & Light Company's
wires and created flash that, as
residents of the city will remember,
put the lights out in town for almost
thirty minutes. In order to prevent a
more serious repetition of this disaster
and to prevent danger to the workmen.
Forman Gill ordered Verco to remove
plugs a short'distance from the point,
where the crew was working, and thus
cut off the current. This action was
taken by tee foreman the morning al
ter Thanksgiving.
While the Hydro Company's crew
was working with the current off. AL.
Day, superintendent of the lines of the
Pacific Co., reports having been re-
eeived from patrons becuse of lack of
current, as is alleged, began an inves-
tigation long the lines and discovered
the plugs cut. However, he made no
move to have the replaced, although
he had had orders to heat the wires.
The wires remained without their
current of 2, 200 volts for about four
and half hours, and asserting that it
was willful and malicious damage to
them because their patrons were with
out electrical energy for power and
heating purposes for this period, the
manager of the company preferred the
charges.
Evidence was introduced by the de-
fense, which was representa- by A. j.
Derby, to show that even though the
action had been malicious, because of
the fact that the wires of the lines
were unlawfully constructed no fine
could be assessed by law. The testi-
mony tended to show that the lines
were improperly placed upon.the cross
arms, and that a workman engaged OH
the line would be in great danger be-
cause they were strung so close to-
gether. The main argument of the
defense was based on this testimony.
Attorney Wilbur argued for the
prosecution that such a defense ap-
piled merely between the employer and
employees and that the defendants had
no right whatever to NEEDLE with the
property of the Pacific Power 4 Light
Co. Mr.. Wilbur also emphasized the
damage to the company and the hard
ship suffered by the patrons along the
| line because of the lack of current for
| four hours and a half.
In his argument Judge Derby said:
| UHiiS MI. w WllbuN uldhSS HuCu VI tHS
damage to the company and the ipcon-
venience of the patrons mark me
say this without malice-l will wager
that the first of the month, when those
patrons receive bills they will find no
reductions.
In rendering his decision, Justice
Buck said:
Gentlemen, all of this talk about
unlawfully constructed lines has been
wasted on me. | am going to settle
this case according to common sense.
Under the circumstances it seems to
me that the defendants acted as any
other reasonable men would have done
and for the best interest of the Pacific
Power & Light Co. as we'll as for their
own safety. Therefore | dismiss the
case.