Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-12-24
SEEK DAMAGES
FROM RAILROAD
Five Suits Follow One Ac-
cident.
DEATH OF STOKES
Auto Collision With Late e H.
Stokes Driving Car Results
in Much Litigation.

In Supreme Court yesterday before
Justice Black, the usual routine of
the opening of court was gone
through.
One petit juror, William Brown. Jr..
of Millville, failed to respond to the
call. AS there was no excuse offered
for this failure to appear, Justice
Black ordered that rule be entered
for him to be compelled to show
cause, before Law Judge Loder why
he should not be punished for con-
tempt of court. &
Several minor motions were mada
after which Justice Black turned over
to Circuit Court Judge Howard Car
row all matters coming before the
Supreme and Circuit courts.
An experimental call of the causes
for this term of court gave evidence
that nearly all cases were ready for
immediate trial, and Judge Carrow
announced that he would stay in
Bridgeton until all cases coming un-
der his jurisdiction in this county
should be tried.
Motion was made by counsel Louis
H. Miller, that the two cases of Ad-
ans VS.. The West Jersey & Seashore
Railroad, the two Stokes cases and
the Wisham vs. The West Jersey &
ocho ID ID h. knso
This was granted by Judge Carrow
Judge Carrow announced that the
Circuit Court case of James M. Vance
Hardware Co. VS.. Lazar Kleeve would
be transferred by consent, to the
Court of Common Pleas.
Judge Leroy w Loder announced
that the jury trials in the Court of
Common Pleas would not be taken up
until Monday, January 11th Several
cases ready and not requiring juries,
were set for date in February and
March A@ 3t- 'a4
Judge Loder also announced that
he had at hand the application of
Jonathan W.. Kirchoff, for an inn Ii
cense at Port Norris, in Commercial
Township. Mr.. Kirchoff was repre-
sented in court by DeVoe Tomlinson.
]. Ellsworth Long appeared for pc
titioners against the granting of such
a license and was given until Satur-
day, January I'd, to file remonstrances
and the date for hearing set for Mon
day, January 18th.
The Court then entered upon the
hearing of the five cases against the
Railroad Company. On the side of
the plaintiffs were associated Louis
H. Miller, Atty GenI. John w. Wes-
colt, and, former Judge Royal P. Tul-
ler. The West Jersey & Seashore
Railroad was represented by Walter
H. Bacon, having associated with him
his son, Walter H. Bacon, Jr.
The jurors were called for The case
and upon exhausting his six chal-
lenges, counsel Bacon asked that the
Court allow him the privilege of chal-
lenges for each case, making 80 in all.
This was conceded upon consent of
counsel for the plaintiffs, with the
understanding that they should receive
the same privilege. Some serious diff
Guilty was experienced regarding this
arrangement, but afser much argu-
ceeded upon equal footing.
After the swearing of the jury,
nnCounsel Louis H. Miller recounted the
Ills of the accident, out of which
I've suits arise, explaining how
Ire connected 1t is not neces-
20 go into detailed account OF
occurrence, as the matter has
past been presented to the
Ey. General John w. Wescott, as
sci for Fannie Wisham, then pre-
sented the details of the case from
his clients standpoint.
Walter H. Bacon in an opening ad-
dress to the jury. outlined the case
as he understands it, claiming that
before he. got through with the cases
he would prove to them that at the
time of the accident and possibly at
no time at all, was Edward H. stokes
competent to operate an automoplie'
City Engineer Wade, OF MillVliie'
was called by the plaintiff's slde u
identify map of the crossing wnere
the accident occurred, known as 'ne
Malaga Crossing This map was
objected to by counsel Tor tne ue
tense as not presenting the conditions
at the crossing on July 8, 1872 having
been made in the December following.
The Court ruled that the map oou'u
(. not be admitted until proven ,.
II N6