Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-02
WESTERLY JURY AWARDS $500
Finds for Peter Pucc A. Lamed When Run Over by Coal Wagon-Board of Trade Hears About County Agents Work-Funeral of William D. Moss.

Judge Chester W. Barrows of Prov idence presided at the session of the superior court for Washington coun- ty here Monday. Judge John w. Sweeney, who presided last week, went to Newport. The case on trial was that of Peter Pucci Vs. Wayland A. Saunders. This was a suit brought to recover damages to the amount or $1,5a1 for injuries alleged to have been sustained by the plaintiff. boy four years of age. at Bradford, Sept 1S 1914, when it was claimed the wagon of the defendant, loaded with coal, ran over the boy and fractured his left leg near the thigh. Attorney Clarence E. Roche for the plaintiff made 8 mo tion to increase the addendum to S2,5o0, on the ground that the in juries were more severe than at first believedd. This the court denied.
 Theresa Pucci, Dr. Michael H. Scan lon. and pr. Benomi Sweet of Wake field were the more important wit nesses heard, but in all of the testi- mony presented not one of the wit nesses was an eye witness to the ac- cident Dr. Sweet testified to attending the boy eleven times. He attended him eight times in succession. he said, and then 8 short time afterwards he visited the boy three or four more times. On CilS ldSl S6IlSS Ol NlSlLS lie found that the injured member was not doing as well as when he first at tended the boy. and it seemed that the leg had been injured. Dr. Scanlon testified that had the boy received moro thorough attention the leg might boy would not be in danger of being permanently lame. He testified to measuring the leg in the office of At torney Roche before the trial and find ing it one inch shorter than the right leg.
 The child was presented in the court room and allowed to walk in front of the jury box. so that the jury might ascertain just how lame the boy was. The jury was out less than a half hour when it returned with a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $500.
 The regular monthly meeting of the Westerly Board of Trade was held Monday evening in the town hall on Broad street. A United States county gave an illustrated lecture on the work of the county agent. This lecture was to be held on Tuesday evening, but it was decided to join with the Board of Trade at it's regular session Monday evening. There was large attend ance af persons from the rural dis tricts interested in agricultural work who greatly enjoyed the instructive lecture given them.
 Joseph T. Murphy, representing the St, Vincent De Paul society, and also the social welfare department of the Westerly District Nurse association, was at the meeting of the Westerly town council Monday in the interest of the poor people of the town. He said the private charitable organizations that he represented in part. as well as Oth 1a1 cxl, tod %1noJ, and on behalf of the destitute people he. asked for assistance from the char lty department of the town. He said that OverSeer of the Poor Barber had been aiding the poor as well as the appropriation at his command permit ted, but he, too, had reached the point when he could not continue the work to help meet the present extraordinary demand. MT. Barber says that the ap- propriation is barely sufficient to meet the regular expenses of the depart ment for the balance of the fiscal year which ends April 30. The new appro- priation will not be available until af- ter the financial town meeting in June.
 MT. Murphy said that S7 persons had been assisted by the private chari- ties he was representing at the meet ing, and at the present time they were absolutely without food and fuel. MT. Murphy said that the cause of the present unusual distress in the town "dS uu0 lO Llle 11ldDlllIy or the neauS Of the families to secure employment, and he added that most of the men now seeking aid have been usually employed in the highway department of the town. He said that the pri- vate charity organizations having al ready gone beyond their limitations, it was up to the town authorities to care for these poor people.
 Councilman HaswelI, chairman of the highway committee, said he had con- suited with the town treasurer with reference to holding a town meeting to get a special appropriation to carry out the work on the highways, and thus give employment to these men who. with their families, are now in want. He was told that the town was now well up to the debt limit and that nothing could be done in the way of special appropriation, therefore he could see no way of doing work on the highways until after the financial town meeting, when money would be avail able to pay for the labor. He said that the regular appropriation was practically used up; that there was no money for oiling the streets, and that the people would hae to swallow dust the coming spring. He fully realized that something must be done to relieve the distress of the suffering poor, but he could not see how men could be employed on the highway when there was no money to pay for the service, although there was necessity for work on the highways
 Mir. Murphy said the condition was very serious and if the town could not relieve the distress appeal would be made to the state, for these people can not be permitted to starve. Among the sufferers are eight families composed of 57 persons, all dependent upon the earnings of the head of the families, who are anxious to work at anything and for any wages. These men have been compelled to spend every cent they possessed, their credit is exhaust ed. and they are with their families on. the verge of starvation and something must be done. There are many chari- table persons in Westerly, he said, and he added that while they had been do- ing praiseworthy work in assisting those at a distance, there is work enough for them right here at home, where charity should begin.
 Councilman Flynn said it was the duty of the town to properly Care for the deserving poor and he believed that the people as a whole were in sympathy with that sentiment He