Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-16
MRS. LA|MBEER TELLS
HER DRAMATIC STORY
woman Widowed by Railroad Col
lisfon Appears as Witness in
Damage Suit.
DRAWS SYMPATHY OF OTHERS
Limps to Stand With Aid Of Cane,
and Simply WOrded Description
Makes Marked ImpressiOn-NIrs.
Pell Seeking $3.50, 900 Damages.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch !


at the steering wheel, the chauffeur
on his left. sat directly behind Mr..
Fell. Mr.. Laimbeer was at my side.
remember turning to the left on one
road and to the right on another The
car went on II little way. / was chat
'ihg with my husband. All of a sud-
deh | looked through the window of
the limousine. / saw what looked like
a great big black thing bearing down
upon us.
II knocked on the glass partition
TO attract Mr.. Pclrs attention. The
big black thing came nearer. / put
my arms about my husband like this
dllustrating) to protect him. That is
all ] remember until i woke up in the
hospital"
The voice Of the beautiful and once
wealthy Nathalie Schenck Collins Lain
beer half melted INTO tears as she
drew this vivid picture of the collision
two years ago at the Wreck Lead
Crossing of the Long Island Railroad.
near Long Beach which widowed her
and Mrs. s. Osgood Pcll.
Mrs. Laimbcer testified in the Su-
prene Court in Long Island City in tho
s25o.o0o damage suit instituted against
the railroad by Mrs. Pell.
She moved Justice Aspinall and the
jury by her dramatic story of her
escape from tho death that came to
the other occupants Of Mr.. Pelrs car.
And her simply worded description Of
the four months following the accident,
during which she was in darkencd
state mentally, drew the sympathy OF
the courtroom.
The young widow limped TO the
stand with the aid of cane. She was
the last witness Of the day The gold
In her hair was pronounced as in
the days when she was radiant New
port dehutantc and society spoke of her
affectionaly as it's beauty princess"
Much of that beauty she still pos
sesses. The slender lines of her face
clearly visible in the glow of an cleo
tric iight-were married but slightly by
a acar extending for more than an inch
below the left eye. Her mourning
gown-cut low contrasted sharply
with the pallor of her neck and face.
After the accident" she said, under
ross-eXamination by Martin w Little
ton. my mind was a blank until the
beginning of December The doctors
gave me injections of morphine until
November 25th. l can't even remember
signing statement for the coroner IN
October. / remember man coming
into my room-thats all. Until they
stopped giving morphine my mind was
Cloudcd."
That the beautiful widow was seek
Ing TO piece out tho story OF her cxpe-
rienccs OF August 3. 1913. was evident
in the absorbed attention she paid 10
the testimony of those who assisted in
the ''hrst-aid" work after the accident
AT times she looked puzzled. as though
she was vainly striving 10 uncoil the
cylinders OF her memory.
On her direct examination at the
hands Of former Justice Augustus Van
Wyck. Mrs. Laimbecr confirmed por-
tons Of testimony previously given by
William X Vanderbilt, Jr. She re-
vealed too that If the light-hearted
party that dined at the Trouville at
Long Beach, had followed its first in
tention Of remaining a short while
longer at the beach. three lives would
have been saved.
we were in the Trouvile restaur-
ant from :. :35 J.. NJ. until s:45 or $50"
said Mrs. Laimbcer. In the party be-
sides Mr.. and Mrs. Pell and Dr. Lain
beer and myself were Mr.. Vanderbilt
and Richard Peters. After dinner Mr.
Vanderbilt said he had to leave The
others decided to go across the way 10
another restaurant.
we went across the way. but de-
cided to return with Mr.. Vanderbilt
We found him getting his car ready.
and Mrs. Pell decided 10 ride with him
The rest OF us got into Mr.. Pelrs linn
CUISINE"
WAS the car going fast?" asked Mr..
: Van Wyck.
mo. moderately" replied Mrs Lain
beer.
Did you see the train or hear any
e,< hal ,..hi tel 1inxt.,
No
W. X. Vanderbilt. Jr.. was called as
a witness for the plaintiff early in the
afternoon.
The slender young scion of the Van
derbilts recounted his movements on
the night Of the accident, and then on
cross-cNamination made an admis ion
that hugely delighted the railroad at
torneys. He said that the Wreck Lead
Crossing was unobstructed. so that
good view of all trains could be had.
did you refer TO the daytime in
making that answer" asked Mr. Van
Wyck.
NO to any time" the witness re-
piled. and Littleton smiled
Mr.. Vanderbilt said he and Mrs Pell
were blocked by cars that stopped
ahead of them after the accident
II waited three or four minutes" he
said and then went up ahead to see
what the matter was. saw the
wrecked car and identified Mr.. Pell and
Mr. Laimbeer by their hats and other
clothing. Then / FASTENED back and
got Mrs. Pell away as soon rs posi-
BILE"
Other witnesses to-day testified that
at least two Of the cars on the train
were unlighted. The presence of these
blind" cars is considered OF import
ance, as indicating Mr.. Pelrs lack of
knowledge of the trains approach
The trial will be continued to-mor-
row. Mrs. Pell will be an early wit
ness.
Negro Shoots Policeman.
ISnncial TO The Times Disnafch