The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-05-15
FILE CLAIMS FOR
THIRTY THOUSAND
City Is Asked to Pay Vast
Sum to Relatives and Vic
TINS of Auto Accident
of Two Weeks Ago.
TWO CLAIMS ALREADY FILED

claims aggTegaJlHg pou,uUU nave DoSA
fled against the city Of Kenosha as a
result Of the collision of an automobile
driven by Frank G. Erickson with an
electric street car at the corner of
Elizabeth street and Salem Avenue on
the night of April Goth, resulting in
the fatal injury of George Z. Smith Of
Waukegan and the severe injury of four
other people. Henry Strang one of the
men injured, died this morning at
the Kenosha Hospital and he is one
of the claimants of the large amounts
demanded from the city. The first of
the claims was fled with City Clerk
Harrington on Saturday afternoon by
Attorneys representing Mrs. Bertha
Smith of Waukegan the widow Of the
late George T. Smith and the admins
tratix of his estate. She claims dam
ages in the amount of ten thousand
dollars. In her formal notice of claim
which is filed within the time set by
the state law Mrs. Smith alleges that
the death of her husband was caused
by the fact that the city had failed to
keep Elizabeth street at 1t s intersec-
ton with Salem Avenue in proper re-
pair. 1t is asserted that at the inter
section Of the two streets the city had
allowed a depression Of a hole thirty
two inches wide, ten feet long and from
eight to ten inches deep to remain IN
protected Tt is alleged that when the
automobile driven by Erickson struck
this depression in the road way the
steering gear Of his automobile was
broken and that as a result of the
breaking Of the steering gear ne lost
control Of the machine and it colllded
with the street car. 1t is asserted that
the failure of the city to keep the street
in proper repair was the cause OF the
fatal accident.
The complaint made by Strang de-
mands damages in the amount of twenty
thousand dollars from the city. It was
fled with City Clerk Harrington after
his office had been closed on Saturday
evening and the allegations in the claim
are identical with those made by Mrs.
Smith. The claim was signed by Strang
at the Kenosha Hospital several days
ago.
Street officials OF the city admit that
there was slight depression on Eliza
beth street near the scene of the acct
dent and it is admitted that it has
been repaired since the night of the
accident. It is declared however that
the depression in the street was not
such as would have caused any damage
for any one driving an automobile with
ordinary care.
1t is expected that other occupants
of the "death car will file claims
for damages against the city before
the twenty days set by the law for
the fling of such notices has expired.
Thus far no claim has been filed by
Frank G.. Erickson the owner and
driver Of the car but he has asked the
clerk to advise him as to the time for
fling such claims and it is expected
that he will claim damages for the in
iuries he received and for the damage
done to the automobile. The other
men in the car were only slightly in
jured.
Strang who made the largest claim
against the city never fully re-
covered consciousness. He has been par
TALLY conscious at times and it was dur
ing one of these times that he signed
the claim against the city.
Mr.. Strang was member of the Off
cial Commissions in charge of the city
government at Wankegan.
Notwithstanding his severe injuries
he was recently seated, by proxy, as a
member of the commission. He has
been active III the business and official
life of Waukegan for many years and
the people of that city have been care
fully watching his condition at the
local hospital. Members Of his family
have been constantly at the hospital
since he was injured.
The formal notice that these people
will make claims against the city are
expected to be followed by suits to be
fled in the Circuit Court. Judge George
w. Taylor is representing the claimants.
HISS ESTHER PETERSON DEAD