Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-03
WESTERLY

The superior court for Washington
 county, Judge Doran presiding, was
 occupied with the trial before jury
 of the case of Hermania Bottonell
 against the Westerly Automatic Tele-
 phone company, in which the plaintiff seeks damages of S11, ,000 for injuries received through the alleged neglect of
 the defendant company. Mrs. Bot tonelli with her husband and daughtef
 was returning from berry picking
 trip through a pathway in a lot in Franklin street when she stepped on a telephone wire charged with electricity severely burned and injured This took place three years ago. and she claims she has never fully recovered
 It appeared in testimony that one of the telephone poles had been shattered by lightning some time previoiis and tended without support for distance Of 245 feet. This wire finally parted and fell to the ground and came in contact with the electrically charged
 wire of the Westerly Light and Power company By constant chafing of the two wires. the insulation was worn of the electric wire and direct contact made with the dropped telephone wire, which caused Mrs. Bettonelli's in iuries.
 The trend of questioning by counsel for defendant indicated that effort was directed to show that Mrs. Bottoneili was treSpassing on private land, had LO right to be where the live wire was located. and, farther that if there is responsibility in the case it was with tho Westerly Light and Power com pa ny and not the Westerly Automati tic Telephone company, as without con- tact With the electric wire the teIe- phone wire of itself could not have caused injury.
 There was contention that the teIe- phqne wire was not properly supported and therefore sagged. corroded at it's Wea Eest point. and parted. It was claimed that proper inspection would nave resulted in repairs and removed the cause of the injuries to Mrs. Bot touelii
 As soon as the mishap occurred. and vas reported. an employe cut piece from the end of the telephone wire. which showed corrosion, and it has since been in tho custody of the mana ser of the Westerly Light and Power 7 7Gainst the telephone company in the event of a lawsuit
 At the time of this nishap it was inc custom to have teIephone wires eight feet above the electric wires. One lt tho witnesses. in response to query from counsel for company. freely ad- nitted that the telephone wire of itself. hat is. were it not in conta ct with the 7ioctric wire. no injury would have re- -esultcd from stepping on the wire that Ai.l ''it-'p"I tO the ground. me case will be finished today.
 The assessors of the adjoining town f Richmond have completed their 1 york and filed the result with the town l Jerk. Here is a list of those who are | ssessed for s10,00O or over: Arcadia | Print works. s70.o00; Carolina com lany. S96.0OO: Walter D. and Lillian c 'hasc. s37O0o: George H. Clark, s26.- i 0G, Columbia Narrow Fabric com 1 any. S69 900: Amos J.. Dawley, s16, 300: | 'heakton De Coppet, s15.00O; Eastern | finishing company, S76.700: Rowland l Iazard Estate. Inc SIS 200; Mary L.. | Kenyon. s27.O0o: Mystic Woolen com l 'any. s75- 900; New York. New Haven | nj Hartford Railroad company. s4S4- 00, Caleb F. Nye estate. S15,000: AL