Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-29
BASEBALL FAN IN
COURT FOR $4,000
PERSONAL INJURY
WILLIAM EDDY SEEKS TO ReCoV-
Err FOR ACCIDENT THAT RE-
SUITED IN HIS BEING PERMA-
NENTlY HURT-UTlLITY COM
PANiES DEFENDANTS.

/ 4 $4,000 personal injury case in
which William Eddy, OF Steatcr, is
plaintiff and the Public Service and
+ Illinois Light & Traction Companies,
defendants, being tried today before
Judge Eldredge and Jury in the cir
cult court. Eddy, who was hurt III
street ear accident at Streator June
I, 1914, claims to have received in
iuries of Il permanent nature. and for
which, he should be reimbursed
Mr. Eddy, who is an ardent baseball
fan, was on his way TO game al
the Reds park. when the accident oc-
Cured He was riding on the run
ming board Of an open car, when the
motorman drove onto a switch with
such force Mr.. Eddy was jostled from
his place and thrown violently TO the
street. He was injured about The
shoulders and head. His injuries, he
testified, were OF permanent nature.
His left hand could be raised. he dem
onstrated, only about 10 a level with
his elbow.
Eddy was a blacksmith before he
was forced 10 give up his trade be-
cause Of the mlshap and since that
time has been able to secure employ
meni only as a labOrer and al other
unsettled jobs,
The selection Of jury was com
pleted at 1870 O'Clock and the plain
# was placed upon the stand to teSti-
fy in his own behalf He said the
car on which he was riding was pack
ed with baseball enthusiasts and the
only place he could find room was On
the runboard.
Boys, Osborne & Grisgs and
Browne & Wiley represent Mr.. Eddy,
while G. A. Ellingson, OF Chicago, is
looking after the interests of the uti!-
tiles companies in the suits.
Finish Paving Hearing.
Attorneys in the loop" paving
hearing on benefits, now before Judge
prichard and jury in the county
court this afternoon are making their
closing arguments and by night the
jurors should have the case With
the end Of the suit, unless the verdict
Ii too adverse to the city, il is highly
probable that the commissioners viii
go right ahead now and advertise fol
contracts in time fer the earliest let
ting possible.
Mayor Bradford was on the witness
stand the greater part OF the morning
During the Dayor's testimony Their,
were frequent fire work displays be
tween counsel for the obiectors and
and counsel for The municipality. o.
iectiOnS were frequently raised
against the form Of questions and to
the replies. In their effort to tanslc
the city's executive in his statements
the attorneys fer the directors found
they were dealing with a tartar who
refused to get himself into any I'M
necessary holes
The mayor testified almost eXclus-
lively to the benenta that would be d.
rived by the property owners from
the down town paving He said he
Burrows, Hellirich and Conway prop
critics would be enhanced anywhere
from $500 to $4,000 each, accordin
to their present valuations. The -.
jectors to the benefits were simmer
ed down to five when the case was
called for trial They were Mrs. Aida
Conway, Or Burrows Michael, J)hn
and August tlclftrich, the latter OF
whom Is a city commissioner and a
member Of the board Of local improve.
ments, that planned and passed upnn
the proposed down town alterations
The jurors were taken ont az soon
as the box was filed and given an OBJ
,rortuniiy to view the properties own.
T Oh Nv tha ohfoctor.