Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-16
Testimony For Both Parties To
Suit Completed Thursday In
Supreme Court-Case Result
of Electric Car Striking Nine
Years Old Elsie Williams In
September of Last Year

Testimony for both the plaintiff
and the defendant in a $4,000 suit
for damages for the conscious suf-
fering and pain of Elsie NJ. William
son, a nine-year-old girl, who died
on September 20, 1924. as the result
of an accident early in the evening
at North Vassalboro, when she was
run down by an electric car, was
concluded Thursday afternoon at the
October term of the supreme judicial
court. This case which was brought
by her father. George A. Williamson.
as administrator, against the An
droscoggin and Kennebec Railroad,
was the first case to be tried at this
term of court.
Mr.. Williamson II represented by
Attorney James B. Perkins Of the
Arm Of Pattangall. Locke and Per-
kins and the railroad company by
Tudor Gardiner OF Andrews, Nelson
and Gardiner.
In stating the stand of the plain
tiff in this case Attorney Perkins
explained the situation as his wit
nesses would present it. He stated
that the accident occurred about 6
o'clock on the evening of September
20. 1924, in the village Of North Vas
salboro, short distance from the
Catholic church.
Civil Engineer Henry Hill was
hrst called by the plaintig to testify
with regard to q chart OF the scene
of the accident which he had drawn.
He testived as to certain distances
OF importance in the case. He
stated that from the Phillips garage
Ca place north of the spot where the
young girl was struck, and which
stop that had been made by the car
prior to the accident) to the home of
the girl. where the accident oc.
Cured, there was a clear, unob-
structed view for more than 1000
william l. Corson of waterville,
a photographer, testified that he had
taken two pictures of the track In
that part of North vassalboro.
George w. Bowie, superintendent
of the Augusta Division of the An
droscoggin and Kennebec Railroad,
stated that the car concerned in this
accident was regular extra" which
was run hourly between Waterville
and North Vassalboro on Saturdays
and holidays. He declared that he
"ouiu SoiA ~ Soou sup LIE
car was running at speed of from
II to Is miles and was brought to
halt within 80 to 100 feet.
Playmates Tell OF Accident
Sydney Williamson of North Vas
salboro, brother of the little VIC
tim. was the first witness OF the ac-
cident to be called. He stated that
he was standing on the sidewalk
nearby talking with a young friend
and looking away from the track.
He had seen his sister go onto the
track to pick up some rocks to use
as money" They were playing
store" at the time. He saw the
electric car just starting up at Phil
lips garage as she was picking up
the stones. She was standing side
ways to the car when he last saw
her. He heard no whistle or bell
and when next he saw his sister the
car was stopped and she was under
1t.
On cross-examination he stated
that he was 10 years of age. He
said that they did not play upon the
track but some times ran across It
while playing. He said that he had
called Took out, the car is coming
when he had seen It start up from
the garage. He had done this to
warn all OF the children ana did not
notice what his sister did after the
warning. I
Vincent Lemieux. another young
boy, stated that he was IL years
of age. He had been talking with
Sydney Williamson and heard Sgd
ney call that the car was coming.
He did not recall that he had seen
Elsie until after the accident.
Raymond Vincent. nine-year-old
boy, said that he was sitting on the
front door step. playing store, at
the time Of the accident. He saw
Elsie walk onto the track at the
time the car was at Phillips garage.
He did not notice her again until
they took her out from under the
car. He declared that she was on
the track all of the time. however.
He heard no bell or whistle to warn
of the approach of the car. Elsie
was facing away from the car.
On cross-examination he declared
that Elsie had walked onto the track
but upon being pressed by Attorney
Nelson he admitted that he had told
the attorney that she ran onto the