The Barre Daily Times

JITNEY DRIVER ON TRIAL.

Several Witnesses Heard in Case Growing Out of Accident.

A jury trial in the case of State vs. Hiram D. Warren of Montpelier was started before Acting Judge A. A. Sargent in city court this forenoon. Grand Juror William Wishart conducting the prosecution and F. J. Marshall of Montpelier appearing for the respondent.

Warren was charged with having operated an auto in a careless and negligent manner over a public highway, the case growing out of a jitney accident, which occurred at North Barre on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 21. It is alleged that three men were injured when the jitney, operated by the respondent, ran over a dog in front of the Nichols store, so called.

Max Fisher, one of the passengers in the jitney, who was among the injured, was the first to testify for the state. Henry Rollins, also a passenger, was the second witness, and he told of receiving injuries to both his hands. Witness also furnished the information that two was the limit to the number of hands injured. Special Officer Joseph Lavergne, who arrived on the scene while the injured were being removed, and Officer Harry Gamble, who assisted in the investigation, also testified for the state.

For the respondent six witnesses were introduced. Levi Bixby of Montpelier and Karl Forsell, who said he is a musician living at the capital, were among the first to take the stand after the state rested. Forsell testified to driving his car past the scene of the accident. Previously to that time he had seen Mr. Warren's car going along slowly. Dan A. Perry was introduced as an expert witness and he told something about the kind of cars that are often used in the jitney business. Mrs. Charles Richards of Franklin, Mass., said she saw the Warren car a few moments before the accident and that it was going anywhere from eight to ten miles an hour, in her estimation. Cross-examined by the grand juror, witness stated that she is a relative of the respondent and was visiting in Barre on the day of the accident.

Mrs. Eliza Carroll told of accompanying Mrs. Richards on a carriage drive that day. She too saw the Warren jitney and judged its speed to be between seven and ten miles. Asked by the grand juror as to whether the traffic in the highway was congested at the moment of passing, witness would not remember whether many other teams and autos were in the street. Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Carroll were the first witnesses to take the stand when the trial was resumed at 1 o'clock this afternoon.

The jury is composed of W. T. Jackson, A. S. Martin, W. H. Olliver, F. F. Cave, C. N. Kenyon, I. R. Hutchinson, G. B. Holmes, George Wood, Frank Bancroft, Alex Milne, John Rowley and A. D. Young.