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-UTiLlTY COM
PANiES DEFENDANTS.

4 $4,000 personal injury case i'll
which William Eddy, OF Sreatcr, is
plaintiff and the Public Service and
Illinois Light K Traction Companies.
defendants being tried today before
Judge Eldredge and Jury in the cir
cult court Eddy. who was hurt IN
a street car accident at Streator June
I. 1914, claims to have received in
juries of permanent nature, and for
which. he should be reimbursed.
Mr. Eddy, who is an ardent baseball
fan, was on his way 10 a 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 a 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 mishap and since that
time has been able to secure employ
ment only as a laborer and a. other
unsettled jobs.
The selection of jury was com
pleted at 1920 o'clock and the plain
tiff was placed upon the stand to testi-
fly 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 & Griegs and
Browne & Wiley represent Mr. Eddy,
while G. A. Ellingson, of Chicago. is
looking after the interests Of the utii-
tiles companies in the suits,
Finish Paving Hearing.
Attorneys in the loop" paving
heaiin on benefits. now before Judge
prchard 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
IL too adverse to the city, ii Is highly
probable that the commissioners viii
90 right ahead now and advertise foI
contracts in time fer the earliest let
( ting possible.
Mayor Bradford was on the witness
stand the greater part OF the m0rn!n%
During the payers testimony there
were frequent fire work displays be.
tween counsel for the DIRECTORS and
and counsel for tho municipality. Oh
icctions were frequently raised
against the form of questions and to
the renlies In their effort 10 tanglc
the citys executive in his statements
the attorneys fer the DIRECTORS found
they were dealing with tartar who
refused 10 get himself into any I'M.
necessary holes"
The mayor testified almost excllta-
lively to the dement's that would be de-
rived by the property owners from
the down town paving He said he
Burrows, Heinrich and Conway prop
critics, would be enhanced anywhere
from 5000 to $4,000 each, accordin ,
to their present valuations. The ID.
jectors to the benefits were simmer
ed down to five when the case wa
called for trial They were Mrs. Aida
Conway, DR. Burrows, Michael, 1hn
and August Hclftrich, the latter of
whom is a city commissioner and a
member Of the board of local improus.
ments, that planned and passed upan
The proposed down town alterations
The Jurors were taken out as soon
as the box was filed and given an op-
rortunty to view the properties own.
cd. by the directors.