Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-18
Testimony for Plaintiffs in
Suits for $4,000 Against
Owner of Ferry Presented
Monday - Four Persons
We're Drowned in Accident
AT Dresden Last August

All evidence for the plaintiff and
part Of the evidence for the defense
in The cases Of F. A. Danforth Of
Gardiner, administrator Of the. es-
tates of Leonard f. Goodall and vio-
let M. Goodall. both Of LitchfieId, VS..
Owen Emmons OF Richmond, pro-
prietor Of a ferry boat running be-
tween Richmond and Dresden. was
introduced at the Monday session Of
superior court for Kennebec county.
In these two cases. Mr.. Danforth
alleges that through the negligence
of Mr.. Emmons or his servant.
proper safeguards were not provided
upon the ferry boat, and as q result
on August 8, 1923, Chevrolet auto
mobile containing seven people,
among them Mrs. Goodall and her
12-year-old son Leonard, in some
way slid from the back OF the boat
into the Kennebec river and that both
Of them were drowned together with
two other occupants Of the car. He
also declares that the boat was not
Of sufficient size for this work and
was not Of strong enough construc-
ton. The amount set forth in the
writ is $4,000 in each case.
Attorneys George Heselton q Gar
diner and Henry r. Drew of Rich
mond appeared for the plaintiff nd
attorneys VILLAIN r. Pattangall and
James Il. Perkins of this city rep
resented Mr.. Emmons.
Nine witnesses were sworn by the
plaintiff and Fred Lewis of Rich
mond was the first to be called. He
stated that he had measured the fer
ry boat apd that he found It was 43
feet one ihch long and II feet nine
inches wide with a drop which could
be let down so that an auto or team
might drive aboard. that was ten
feet wide and extended we feet
from the boat.
IS Milliam~L. Reed Of Perkins testi-
fed that he was haying on the day
of the accident and that the wind
was from the west and rather squal-
ly. On cross examination by Mr..
Pattangall he stated that he did not
believe that there was wind enough
to make the boat jump.
Henry Goodall who was driving
the car on the day of the accident
was then called to the stand. He
stated that he had driven the car
some little time. When he drove on
to the ferry boat from Drsden to
make the trip to Richmond. there
were two people on the front seat
with him and four on the back seat
This was the return trip as they had
come from Richmond to Dresden on
the boat that day. He drove onto
the boat until Carter, the man who
was running it, held up his hand,
then he stopped the car, set the
brakes and after stopping the engine
threw the car again into gear and
remained in the car. as did all the
others. Carter pushed the boat off
the shore and started the engine in
the motor boat which was used, to
propel the scow
About a third of the way across
the river he suddenly became aware
that the boat was apparently
lengthening ahead of him and then
the car went off the back end into
the water. When he came to the
surface the boat was about so feet
away and Carter was standing on the
edge OF ii. Carter called to him to
swim for the boat and at the same
time he saw his brother. Kenneth.
come up. Carter then jumped into
the water to save their sister, Dora.
VINO mad come to the surface and
AFTER he had got to her. Carter called
10 him to stop the engine in the
'Oat' "hiNi liz uIu. f1S JnlS
time the wind had turned the boat
around and it was coming back to
ward him. Carter then called to him
TO start the engine again which he
aid ana attempted to steer the boat.
out he was excited and could not
steer IL properly.
He declared that not over a week
before the accident the brakes of
the car had been put in first class
condition by a garage man and thai
the car had only been driven to
Iioulton since that time and before
the accident. a few days after the
accident he drove the car and the
brakes were then in good condition.
On cross examination he stated
,hat ne did not know which ferry
Doat was used as there are two
there but he did know that Carter
was in charge. He said he had nat
driven the car to the center of tho
boat before Carter told him to stop
ana he did. He did not remember
telling anyone he said. that he had
thought that he had set the brakes
and had not.
His brother Kenneth was then called
to the stand. Kenneth was sitting in
the rear seat OF the car at the time of
the accident and was just behind his
brother. lie saw Henry shut off tho
engine but could not say IL he had set
the emergency brake or not. After
raising the drop and trigging the front
end OF the car with timber he said
that Carter had pushed the boats off
and started the engine. He did not
hear Carter say anything after that
Suddenly he noticed that the ferry
seemed to be getting longer and then
the ferry went off the end. It all hap
pened In Oh instant and he did not
hear any one scream nor did he hear
Carter call brakes" The river was
rough at the time.
Cross-examined. he testified that the
car went back easily and that it made
no noise. He had noticed nothing un.
til the car started back. He said the
top was up and he did not have time
to get out before the car went into the
water.
william s. Tibbetts and George
Getchell, submarine divers: were the
first witnesses called in the afternoon
They testified that they went down to
the auto to look il over and arrange
so that 1t might be brought to the