Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-12
Damage Suit Of Nathaniel Par
sons VS.. LA. .Ry.Is
Heard Fednesday.-The PatiangaII.
M00ers SIander Case Halted

drews & Nelson represented the rail-
road company. The nature of the case
according to Mr.. Sawtelle was as fol-
lows:
The plaintiff was riding on one of
the Company's cal s going south on Wa
ter street in Hallowell Nov. 8, 1913, and
had informed the conductor on the car
that he wished to get off at Temple
street. Plaintiff heard conductor cry
out Temple street, and at the same
time he sounded one bell. Plaintiff
arose from his seat, went to the rear
of the car and as he was getting off,
the car struck a curve throwing him
off and breaking his left leg in three
places, also injuring him greatly.
Plaintiff was rendered unconscious and.
remained so for the greater part of
the time until the next morning fol-
lowing the accident.
e. F. McAlary, a civil engineer of
Wateryille, was the first witness call
ed, and described in some detail a plan
which he had made of Water street,
Hallowell, near the scene of the acci-
dent.
Perley Hallett of Hallowell, resid-
ing at the corner of Temple and Wa
ter streets, was next called. Witness
testified that he went to the scene
of the accident soon after it happened
and saw Parsons, the plaintiff, lying
on the ground. Plaintiff had lived at
witness home and was his half bro
ther. The cross examination was
brief.
Nathaniel Parsons, the plaintiff in
the case then took the stand. Accord
ing to witness, on Nov. 8, 1913 he came
to Augusta from Waterville, arriving
in this city about noon. Witness stop
ped off in this city. Sometime during
the afternoon witness took one of the
large cars of the road for Hallowell.
Witness sat near the door of the rear
end of the car. Car was running
back end to and passengers alighted
from what would ordinarily be the
front end of the car. Witness inform
ed the conductor that he desired to
get off at Temple street. On response
to this the conductor, according to
witness, sounded one bell. Witness
left his seat and as he stood on the
platform of the car, the car gave
quick lurch and threw him to the
ground. rendering him unconscious.
The next thing witness remembered
he was going down Water street in
physicians automobile, was conscious
while the doctors were injecting ny
perdermics into his arm and knew no
more until the next morning, when
he discovered that his left leg was
fractured in three places. Witness
then testified that he suffered greatly
as the result of the accident and was
not able to work until Feb. i of the
present year Attorney Nelson cross
examined. There were five OF six pas
seneers on the car witness should
say
Where did you pay your fare?'
I'm Augusta"
when you paid your fare you told
the conductor that you wanted TO get
off at Temple street,
"Yes, SIR
You didn't say Hallowell?"
NO"
$50 that the last and only time you
told the conductor where you wanted
to get off was just as you were leav-
ing Augusta
Yes, sir
How fast was the car going when
you went to get off
II don't know"
WAS the car slowing up any?"
"It struck the curve and threw me
off, that's all 1 know, l don't know
how fast it was going.
Court at this point took a recess.
After the recess Mrs. Flora Hallett,
mother of the plaintiff, took the stanu
and testified that her son was brought
to her home soon after the accident.
She was asked but few questions ana
Mr.. Nelson cross examined.
Witness told of a paper that persons
connected with the road presented TOT
her to sign, in order that the roao
would be in no way to blame for the
accident.
"Didn't these people read this paper
and explain it to you before you Sign
ed it," asked Attorney Nelson.
"I remember of them reading a pa
per. but didn't know what 1t meant.
Mr.. Nelson questioned the witness at
length in regard to her signing the
paper. her son, the plaintiff, and other
members of the family. In responce
70 which witness did not understand
the paper, but did not deny but what
she signed 1t.
Witness was shown the paper that
was signed and asked to identity the
signature of her son which she did.
Witnes saw some money turned over
to her son by some one connected
with the railroad, but did not know
who the gentleman was.
Bessie Hallett, sister-in-iaw of the
plaintiff, was the next witness to tes-
tify. witness told of two men calling
at her houe soon after the accident.
Witenss was asked to sign paper by
the men who were in the room
where the plaintiff was. Witness sign
ed the paper. Parsons. the plaintiff, ac-
cording. to witness, did not appear
like himself at the time he signed the
paper Mr.. Nelson cross-examined
briefly. Witness did not hear any con-
yersation that took place between the
two men connected with the road and
her brothers. as she was in the kitch-
en- getting ready to go away. Court
then adjourned until P. M.
Afternoon Session.
DR.. c. E. II. Beane of Hallowell was
called at the opening of the afternoon
session. Witness testified as to being
called to the scene of the accident.