The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-05-03
DOMINICK LOSES SUIT
AGAINST GEO. H. BOLT
Sued for Seventy Thousand Dol
lars but Jury Rendered Verdict
for the Defendant
Laurens Herald, 29th.

Laurens Herald, 29th.
: When the jury rendered verdict
for the defendant Tuesday night in
an action instituted by Mrs. H. l..
Domnick of Newberry county against
Mr.. Geo. H. Bolt of this county, it
ended trial that involved one of the
largest sums ever named in suit IN
this county, the damage asked for be-
ing $4,000. The cause of the suit
was the death of the husband of the
plaintiff on October 20, 1919, when
he was struck by Mr.. Bolts car
about 12 miles this side Of Columbia
and died fe wminutes after he was
taken to a hospital in the capital city.
Mr.. Bolt, testifyng in his own be-
half. stated that he and Mr.. Jno.
Knight were on their va to the State
fair when the accident occurred. He
saw the Donlinick car coming when
they were about one-fourth mile
apart. When they came within about
so feet of each other, the Dominick
car came to stop at a spring, and
when passing the car he saw Mr..
Dominick in the road a few feet IN
the rear of his car in a stoopng po-
sition. He Immediately applied the
brake and al the same time steered
to one side.
Mr.. Bolts efforts failed, however,
and Mr.. Dominick was struck by the
fender or hub and knocked to one
side. He died a few hours later
without regaining consciousness.
Mr.. Bolts testimony was corrobor-
ated by Mr.. Knight, who was on the
same seat with him, and also by W.
E. Woodside and D. NJ. Peden who
had been to Columbia and were at
that time following the Doninick car
about 200 yards in the rear. Mr.
| Woodside testified that Mr.. Dominick
stopped to pick up something but
raised up as if he feared Mr.. Bolts
car would strike him and then stoop-
ed again as if he had decided that ne
icould secure the object before the
car arrived. Mr.. Peden testified that
under the conditions, Mr.. Bolts car
had to strike either the Dominick. car
or Mr.. Dominick himself.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Mccormick of
Columbia, in whose undertaking es-
tablishment Mr.. Dominick's body was
prepared for burial, were also here
as witnesses for the defense, both OF
them testifying that Mrs. Dominick
and her son Cecil, both of whom were
in the party when the accident oc-
Cured, repeatedly stated it was an
accident, unavoida bic, and that they
did not blame Mr.. Bolt as it was not
his fault. Mrs. Mccormick said that
Mrs. Dominick had invited Mr.. Bolt to
come to see them. Mr.. McCormlck
stated also that Mr.. Bolt paid for the
coffin and other expenses, including
express on the body to Prosperity.
The evidence of Mrs. Dominick and
her son Cecil, both on the side Of the
plaintiff, differed from the defense
only in details, the main facts being
substantially the same. According
to their viewpoint, they had stopped
at the spring for water and as they
were hating, some of the party saw
knife lying in the road aad this was
the object for which Mr.. Dominick
stopped when he was injured. They
did not notice Mr.. Bolts car, they
said, until it went whizzing by and If
Mr.. Bolt gave any signal they did
not hear it. They denied having ex-
onerated Mr.. Bolt as was testified by
the McCormicks.
The case consumed the entire day
Tuesday, the session being extended
into the night, but the deliberations
of the jury were short, consuming
about Is minutes.