THE RESULT OF THE TRAP COLLISION ON DARWEN BRIDGE.—At the Preston County Court on Tuesday, before his Honour Judge Coventry, John Stones, general dealer, of Bamber Bridge, sued Sarah Marsden, wholesale confectioner, of Lancaster-road, Preston, for £229 8s for injuries sustained through being run into by defendant’s toffy cart.—Mr. Ingham, Bamber Bridge, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Blackhurst represented the defendant. The damages were made up as follows:—personal injuries £20, doctor’s foe £8 8s, and damage to cart £1. The statement of the plaintiff was to the effect that he as usual had driven to Preston on the 5th January last, and was returning home having left the town at four o’clock in the afternoon. At the White Bull Inn, Walton, a Mr. Livesey asked him to give his wife and baby a ride, as he was going in the same direction as they. This request was acceded to. He drove on as far as Darwen bridge, which is very steep on both sides, and consequently he allowed his pony to walk up the slope till it got to the crown of the bridge, when he let it trot a little. He was on his right side of the road as close as he could get, for he saw the defendant’s cart being driven furiously up the hill. He did his best to avoid a collision but they ran into him, the off wheel of each vehicle coming into violent contact, with the result that all three persons in the plaintiff’s trap were thrown out into the road. The plaintiff became unconscious, and remembered nothing for some little time. On recovering to be found he was being assisted by several persons, and soon after one of the defendant’s servants, James Jackson, came up and said, “You must remember that you are as much to blame as us.” Plaintiff replied, “We will see about that.” He was conveyed home in a cab, and the doctor called in. After the accident he was confined to the house for five weeks, three weeks of the time being spent in bed, and he was quite disabled for business for over eight weeks. Mrs. Mary Livesey, who was with the plaintiff at the time of the accident, deposed that the plaintiff was on the right side of the road, and in cross-examination said the pony was going as fast as it could. Neither of the carts carried lights, but it was not quite dark. Mrs. Fisher said she saw the accident. The defendant’s cart was being driven rapidly, and said there was plenty of room for it to pass the plaintiff without collision. Thomas Porter, who helped to release the carts, said the plaintiff’s cart was close to the kerbstone. Samuel Radcliffe corroborated. Dr. Trimble was called to see the plaintiff, and found him suffering from a severe wound on the head, some of the arteries being severed. He was also suffering from a fractured arm and a contused shoulder, and besides had sustained a very severe shock. At the time he considered his life was in danger.—Mr. Blackhurst, for the defence, contended that there was ample evidence of negligence on the part of the plaintiff, and therefore the defendant was not responsible. He drew the attention of the jury to the fact that the plaintiff said he was only trotting slowly, while the woman, who was riding with him, said he was going very fast, so much so that she was afraid of the plaintiff. John Quarrell, traveller for the defendant, and who had charge of the van, deposed that when he got to the bottom of the hill he stopped to light his pipe. Soon after he started he perceived Stones dashing down the bridge, and he put his horse to the trot in order to turn into Walton Green and get out of plaintiff’s road. He was too late, however, and plaintiff dashed into the van. Corroborative testimony was given by James Jackson, the other man in the toffee cart. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £14 9s 3d with costs.
LEYLAND, FARINGON & LOSTOCK HALL.
THE RESULT OF THE TRAP COLLISION ON DARWEN BRIDGE.
Date: Saturday, March 14th, 1891
Publication: Preston Chronicle
Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/Y3207507565/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=8&xid=9ccdc9d8
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