The Conductor Caught Between Two Cars on the Counterbalance

Trial of Charles Brevort's suit against the Madison Street Cable Railway company for $6,000 damages suffered while acting as conductor, was commenced yesterday morning before a jury in Judge Humes' court and will be concluded today. Brevort's injuries were sustained in a collision on January 6, 1893. He testified that on the morning of the accident he was helping to turn his regular car on the turntable in front of the power house, when a car in charge of Gripman Koester came along and kept right on its course, instead of stopping, as is the rule, and caught him between the two cars, badly injuring his spine and limbs. He stated that the injuries were so severe as to compel him to remain under the physician's care ever since. He stated that Koester was an inexperienced gripman. The witnesses called by the plaintiff were Grant Shears, Edwin Shepard, George White, David Longstaff, J. Branson, all gripmen and conductors, and Superintendent Samuel Gibson. They testified as to the grade of the hill, construction of turntable and condition of the weather, which was said to be very stormy and the rails slippery. Superintendent Gibson said he was not present at the time of the accident, but that the track was very slippery, and it was difficult to hold the cars in check. The hearing will be continued this morning.