Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-15
FAIL TO AGREE ON
DATE IN AUTO SUIT CASE

DATE IN AUTO SUIT CASE
A date when Frederick A. Barnes of
Mystic says he was in Hartford talking
with Delphia Bonvou.oir about buying
motor truck IS a date when Bonvouloir
claims he did not see Barnes or have
any negotiations with him about the
truck, according to tine testimony of
Bonvouloir when the defense was reach
ed Tuesday afternoon in the superior
court in this city before Judge Allyn L.
Brown in the suit brought by Barnes
against Bonyouloir for $4,000 damages.
Barnes claims he bought a motor truck
which was represented as mechanically
perfect but 1t did not turn out to be
so and he was not able to use 1t in
work he had for It.
The two sides to the suit are a week
apart on the day on which they say the
| purchase of the truck was negotiated.
Delphlt ]. BonvoulCir, the defendant.
| was first called to the stand in OPEN
| ing the case for the defense. He is the
proprietor of the Del Service station and
| the Del motor Co., at Hartford and
has been in the business as proprietor
| about 9 years bedore that having been
| mechanic on repair work. He has
had experience in taking down engines
and automobiles and in saleEnanship.
He now has nine men in his employ
and occupies $4,000 square feet for his
garage, the third largest in the city.
Mr.. Bonvouloir testified that he first
| heard from Mr.. Barnes over the tells
| phone on January 81, but he never saw
| Mr.. Barnes or Mr.. Crouch at the garage
on January Il. the dates on which these
two men say they were at the garage
and talked to Mr.. Bonvouloir about the
/ ut T(lr H.
fed that none of his employees had told
him of seeing or talking to Barnes
and Crouch on January IA
Going back to the telephone CONVEX
sation, Mr.. Bonvouloir said Mr. Barnes
inquired about the Federal truck and
was told to call again on the following
Monday when he would be told wheth-
er the repair work was done and the
truck ready to take out. This Monday
conversation was held Mr.. Bonvouloil
testified, and as a consequence Barnes
came to Hartford and saw the truck a
the garage. still having some work don,
, on 1t. Barnes had two men with him
Artef some conversati ton, nhe witnes.
said, Barnes asked if Bonvoulofr woult
take a Buick touring car in trade. Thii
deal was made, allowing $3.50 for tn,
Buick car.
! The witness denied that he warrant
. ed the truck in any way or stated Il
: Barnes that you'd be- in mechanical
: ly perfect condition. Bonvouloir toll,
Barnes the truck had been given a gen
, eral overhauling. The truck was give1
a test and demonstration with load 0
sand by Morse. an employee Of the ga
rage. with Cudworth, the driver for MI
! Barnes.
= Afterwards In the presence OF Barnes
e Cudworth said the truck ran fine an
V all right" and pulled all right on tn
. hill and he had no fault to find wit
v It. Barnes then decided to take TIL
: truck, and gave his check for $3.50 70
It 1.-THE difference between the $4,000 fo
= the truck and the allowance of s125
I for the Buick touring car. Barnes lei
the Buick car at the garage and Cud
S worth drove the truck away IN the al
: ernoon, the motor sounding fine. Tn
/ motor was In good shape and the true
y was In good shape for a second han
Il truck. The axle was not sprung. A
extra quart Of oil was put into tn
e crank case after the Indicated Shove
e full. The next day IN response to
e telephone call from Barnes. a garae
J. man, Mr.. Moss. was sent to Netw Lor
a don to see what was the matter wit
n the truck. Mr.. Moss reported over ~
telephone from New London and return
|
ped payment on the check and said ov
the telephone that he wouldn't acce
y this truck until the front axle ";
l. Strengthened. Bonvouloir told Barn
re that he could not be expected to fix q
lg truck II some Of Barnes men had \
lie something with the truck. On Februa'
t. 6. Mr.. Springer. was sent by Bo
t vouloir to bring the truck back to Har
Id ford, running 1t back under It's own po7
e. er. At this time new piston rings al
r new piston pns were put in, the fro
10 axle was Strengthened.
o. Concluding witnesses for the plant
: before Bonvouloir went on the sta
OF were Wilfred Brown, John F No
III and Albert P. Webb. all automobile m
IN chanics. and irving Crouch Of Groto
ne The last named testified that he we
on Jan. Il. 1919. with Barnes to I
- Bonvouloir garage and was prese
at when Barnes was talking to Bonvoul,
and heard the latter tell Barnes {
~ truck would be mechanically peri,
~ when the repairs were finished on It a
r. would be in condition for anyone
take out for work
l. Trial of the suit e expected TO be CO
:, cluded today "wednesday