Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-12

District and Augusta Water District
We. Liable, which were heard Thurs
daX at the kennebec Superior court.
The two cases resulted from an acct
dent in which u HupmObile roadster
owend by Arthur Liable of this city
and Il Ford truck owned by the Au-
Susta Water District and driven by
Paul LeClair collided on November
20 last near the corner OF Bangor
street and North Belfast avenue. The
two eases We're heard together. At
torney James b. Perkins OF the firm
OF Pattangall, Locke and Perkins APP
pearing for Liable and Attorney John
Nelson of the firm of Andrews. Mel
son and Gardiner appearing for the
Augusta Water District.
MIR. Liable was the first witness to
take the stand. in reply to the ques-
tioninS of Attorney erkins he stated
that ut about noon on November 20,
1929. he was proceeding toward Wat
erviile on Bangor street in his up
mobile roadster. lie was travelling
about rs miles an hour. at the time.
When about 800 feet from the juno
ton of Bangor street with North
Belfast avenue he saw the Water
District truck coming toward Ban
gor street. The truck upon making
the turn Rugged close to the car
track which would be on the left side
of the truck and came along upon
that side of the street. Mr.. Liable
kept his car on his right near the
car track and put ON his brakes.
When he found that they would COL
lido he turned across the car track
and came to a stop with his right
front wheel against hydrant which
is II feet from the junction of the
two streets. He declared that the
view from Bangor street to North
Belfast avenue is not INSTRUCTED at
that point and that he saw the truck
plainly when it was coming toward
Bangor street. His car was badly
damaged about the front end and the
frame was bent.
Harry c. Martin. employed at the
Kennebec Paper Co. the next wit
ness, testified that he was coming
: from Waterville in his car at that
; time and that he saw Liable coming
| toward him before the accident. Lab
! be was on his right side Of the road
, and proceeding at moderate speed.
lie saw the other car coming from
| North Belfast avenue and he des-
| cribed the accident about as Liable
! had done.
Henry vigue. Of Waterville. who
! was on the scene of the accident
! shortly after it occurred described the
| position of the two cars which was
| as the others had testified and stated
| that there was mark on the road
! way which indicated that the Liable
car had turned slightly toward the
! left and then back and that the
! brakes had been set for q distance
| of 80 feet
Frank S. Howes, a garage man.
! who was there within a very short
! time, said that the car had been dam
aged to the extent of 5000, and he
! told of the actual damage, showing
| his bills for repairs.
The Liable testimony was ended at
| this point and Paul LeClair was
| called by the Water District. He
said that he drove the truck up onto
the railroad track and then saw the
Liable car coming toward him at a
very rapid rate of speed. about 40
miles an hour. He saw the Liable car
swerve slightly toward MIR. Labbe's
left and thought that Mr.. Liable was
going to pass in front of him, 50
turned toward his own left to give
him more room. Mr.. Liable turned
back to his own right side of the
| road and struck the truck. His own
car was stopped at the time of the
collision.
David Beaulieu. a garage man. who
was walking along Bangor street
toward his home just before the COL
lision. said that Liable went by him
in the car and he was going about
40 miles an hour. He said that he
was about 600 feet from the place
where the accident occurred at the
time.
Napoleon Pelletier. who was riding
with LeClair. testified in substance
as LeClair had done.
In rebuttal Mr.. Perkins called Lab.
be and Attorney Gordon Gallert Of
Waterville, who testified that they
had talked with Beaulieu about the
case and he had told them that he
was a quarter Of a mile from the
scene Of the accident when Liable
went by.
The case then went to the lawyers
for summing up and then to the jury.