Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-24
Personal Injury
Suit on Trial in
Supreme Court.

The testimony In the case of the adj
illustrators of Paul Gerow VS..
Fletcher Iahey Co. which was con-
tinued from Saturday. was taken up
Immediately after the opening of the
supreme court, Monday morning. The
action in this case is to recover for
personal damages inflicted by live
wire upon Paul Gerow, while he was
in the employ of the Fletcher Lahey
Co. at the cushnoc Paper mills of this
city.
Alderman Henry Lemieux of this
city testified that he had known Paul
Gerow for two years previous To the
accident. and that Gerow did not know
how to speak much English, and could
not read or write It at all.
DR.. Wellington Johnson, who was
called to attend Gerow Immediately
after the accident occurred, testified
that Gerow was badly bruised. and
burned on the right and left shoulders,
face and right foot when he first saw
him. He said that Gerow was carried
TO the Augusta General hospital, but
upon request of his wife and mother
that he was moved To his home ON
the next day lie said that he did not
let him leave the hospital however
until he had signed papers that he had
left the same under protest of the
hospital authorities.
Drs. Charles j. Lincoln and Lewis
L. Mann were both called ON the stand
by the plaintiff to testify in regard to
the burns which Gerow received by
the accident. Their stories corrobor-
ated that of DIR. Johnson.
James n. Bison, former janitor at
the city building, testified that he had
known Gerow for five or six years,
and that while he was employed at
the city building Gerow frequently
called there and asked him or the city
marshal to help him out of troubles.
His testimony brought out the fact
that Gerow's mental capacity was not
as good as it might have been. Ernest
F.. Randall, insurance agent. testified
that he issued a policy to -Gerow. and
at that time Gerow did not know how
to make a cross on an insurance
blank. until he was shown how.
John Bolduc, who was an acquaint-
ance of Gerow, testified that Gerow
did not know how to count and that
he often asked him to count his
weeks pay for him.
Mrs. Mary Gerow, the widow IF Paul
Gerow, was called upon the stand by
| Attorney Williamson. and she testi-
lied that her husband had been a hard
working man, and of vigorous health
before the accident happened. She al
| so testified that her husband was UNI
| able to tell the time of day by a
clock
The defendants side of the case was
opened by Attorney Cleaves. John j
Rourke, superintendent of the work
for the Fletcher Lahey Co, at the
time of the accident. was the first
witness to be called upon the stand
lby the defence. He testified that ht
was notified of the accident by tele-
phone and that he went as quick al
possible to the place where 1t occur
red, but when he got there it wa
labout half an hour after the acciden
had happened He said that he haC
talked with Gerow previous to the ac
cident and at no time had he noticed
Ithat Gerow could not understand or
ders that were given to him in Eng
fish.
After the completion of cross-cxam
Iination of the witness by Attorne,
Williamson the court adjourned unit
$50 A. NJ. Tuesday.
The following people were allowe'
naturalization papers by Judge Spear
Arthur n. Roy, Augusta; Michae
John. Augusta; John Joseph. Vassal
boro; Isidore Laveen, Waterville
Israel Davis, Waterville: Leo s. War
rem, Waterville, and Amedie J. Hu
bert, Augusta.
Mrs. John NJ. Kehoe is passing