The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-14

and five women, and one mar
to serve as alternate jurors.
Called to the stand as the first
witness for the plaintiff was VIII
liam Messier, operator Of service
station on East Main street at the
point Of the collision, who identified
three photographers sitting in the
court, and testified that all three
took pictures of the crash before the
vehicles were moved. The trio con-
sisted Of Thomas r. Goodman and
| Gunther Mathes, local newspaper
photographers, and Edward F.
Christian, state police photographer.
| The defense declined to cross-ex-
anime the witness.
Mr.. Goodman was called to the
stand after lengthy testimony by
william B. Reynolds, Watertown
surveyor, who presented a map OF
the accident location.
The photographer identified eight
! photos, presented by Attorney VIII
| liam B. Fitzgerald, plaintiffs coun-
/ sci, as ones which were taken at the
| scene Of the accident He testified
he arrived at the point Of the wreck
lnbout 8 o'clock. The collision occur
red at about $3.50 p. m.
] Mr.. Goodman also testified that
both vehicles in the crash, the G.
r.. d L. bus and the oil truck own
ed by the Elm City Filling station
of New Haven, were on the left side
of the highway.
Attorney Harold G. v. Eagan Of
New Haven, counsel for the Elm
city Filling station, stated he would
have no objection to introduction OF
the pictures If they were offered for
| no other purpose than to show the
! position Of the two vehicles involved
In the collision as the witness on the
stand found them. Attorney ]. War
rem Epson and Attorney Lawrence
H.. Lewis, who represent the Colonial
lBeacon OIL Company Of Massachu-
sets, expressed the same attitude,
and the pictures were allowed as ex-
Ihibits.
Mr.. Reynolds answered questions
kOased on the map he made Of the
accident area. He stated the high
Eway at the point Of the crash has
wide shoulders, which constitute
Travelled portion Of the highway and
(which give an appearance Of one
width Of the highway. The grade of
THE road is two per cent, and there
lls no curce at the spot which the
accident occurred, he testified. The
map portrays about 205 feet Of the
highway, the surveyor stated.
The defense questioned him about
che nature of the road beyond the
portiOn portrayed on the map, and
hetaSled testimony was given on
buildings located within the area.
The case on trial, one Of five
spending in the court as result OF
Mhe crash, is based on fatal injuries
Sustained by Louis DeschesneS, the
Hbus driver. The truck driver, Harry
NIenstock OF New Haven, also was
hkilled, and II bus passengers, all OF
them school children, were injured
Impaneling Of the jury was COM
E@leted late yesterday afternoon, az
Iter 81 Of the 80 veniremen sum-
lmoned had been examined. TWO al
ternate Jurors were selected, after
kcounsel and the court agreed to
The proposal. It was pointed out the
trial may last q long period Of
tine, and the extra Jurors were
manned to forestall possible mis-
htrial because Of illness on the part
of the regular members.
Judge Quinlan ordered the oath
administered to the ~ regular jur-
Tors FIRST, and then to the two alter
mates who were seated, by order OF
THE court, at the far section of the
Nury box.
The Judge instructed the Jurors
not to read newspaper articles on
the trial not to discuss the case
with anyone, and not to examine
the scene of the accident or the
vehicles involved. 1t was indicated,
however, that the proceedings may
fpossibly lead to an order OF the
court directing examination of the
vehicles and scene by the jurors.
The two alternates will not be
allowed in the jury room and will
not be permitted to have lunch with
the others members, the court ruled
indicating 1t wished to take all