Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-04-16
In Session at Jasper This
Week Uuder Judge BaChman.
PRYOR SUIT
VS.. POWER CO.
Probably Largest Ever on Rec.
ord in County.

In civil division of Circuit Court
Judge Bachman presiding, in session
at Jasper this week, large number OF
cases we're disposed of, among them
being the following:
G.. W. Byrd VS.. R. Q. Aycock for
81, 500 damages. In this case Byrd,
who is farmer, living at head OF
Battle Creek, was driving a peddline
wagon, and was met near Battle
Creek bridge by an auto driven by
Howell Cummins, Aycock's colored
chauffer. Byrd horse, it was claim
ed, became frightened at the auto,
and backed, turning Mr.. Byrd into a
wire fence, whereby be sustained
slight damages. The wagon was also
damaged. Aycock's chauffer claimed
to have stopped when opposite horse,
which was turned off to roadside at
McDaniel's farm gate, the only prac-
tical place to PASS. Byrd claimed he
gava signal to stop. Chauffer claimed
he did not see signal, but stopped as
soon as he saw horse backing, and
claimed he was running very slowly
then. Mr.. Aycock and Mr.. Cameron,
witnesses, who arrived after the aCci-
dent testified that Mr.. Byrd said he
pulled the wrong line. Jury gave YER
dict for $3.50 damages, which embrac-
ed $25 foi the wagon.
Another case which was closely con-
- T0nE
Jacobs IL Davies, and Pat Daffron, his
son, a minor, against the same firm,
the two cases being tried jointly, the
former for 81, 600 damages, and the
latter for $4,000. The evidence pro
duced was that Pat Daffron, minor,
was employed by Jacobs & Davies,
first as water carrier. then as oil dis
tributor, and lastly as fireman, that
he was some five months less than 10
years of age. The boy in receiving
his pay check stepped upon .the run
ming board of hosting engine, and II
set screw on the shaft caught his an
kle, stripping the flesh and crushing
the bones of his left foot, seriously
crippling him. Law allows boys under
Is for certain occupations. but firing
for hosting engines is excepted, and
contractors were held liable. The
boys being under age seems to have
been known by his uncle, who operat-
I'd the engine, and father, who work
ed elsewhere on the works, Boy
received ST. 60 per day, and had work
ed five days when injured. Accident
occurred about March Is, 1913, Jury
returned verdict for $4,000 damages
for the boy and $3.50 for the father. 1t
is said that the contra ctors had offered
to compromise the case for -, 800,
hence verdict of jury was under fig
ure.
Case of Hugh Curtis VS.. Sequatchie
Handle Works for damages while oper-
ating saw was thrown out of
court. as from the evidence it appear
ed that plaintiff knew machine was
dangerous to operate and had chance
to change..if he wished.
Cases of Green VS.. Seay, j. b.
Wynn vs.. Tennessee River and Rail
road Co, W. Freeman VS.. Sequatchie
Handle Works and several other cases
were continued.
Case Of W. S. Pryor VS.. j. Fl. Con-
dra, damage suit, was reported mot
at issue.''
Tuesday morning the case of Fannie
Kate Pryor, heirs of Andy Pryor, and
Mrs. S. q. Bennett VS.. the Chattanoo-
ga and Tennessee River Power Co.
was commenced Brown, Spurlock
d Brown, of Chattanooga, represented
the plaintiffs, w B. Stewart, assist
ing, and Spears & Spears, of Chatta
nooga, the defence. Suit is to recover
damage for $50 acres of land, known
as the Pryor farm now submerged by
water backed up from the Hale's Bar
dam. The sum Of S100, 600 is asked
for as damages. Considerable time
was spent in forenoon securing a jury,
both sides making frequent challenges.
A verv large number of witnesses
were examined. The case is attract
ing very wide attention, as it is prob
ably the largest amount involved in a
land suit in this county. The counsel
are also the most prominent lawyers