Perrysburg Journal

Because jurors trying the case read newspaper articles commenting on a former trial of the same suit the Chicago appellate court the other day reversed the judgment of the $10,000 damages awarded to little Emma Grenell and returned the case to the circuit court for a new trial. Emma Grenell, relates the Chicago Chronicle, then six years old, was run over by a trolley car in front of her home at 430 Western avenue on the evening of October 31, 1895. Two and a half years later the suit brought in her behalf against the West Chicago Street Railroad company came on for trial before Judge Hanecy. Two of the jurymen in that trial declared that they had been approached by Bailiff Lynch with a proposition to hang the jury.

The next trial of the suit was in March, 1899, before Judge Smith. The daily papers in reporting the case referred to the jury-bribing scandal of the previous trial and also commented on the nature of the evidence given by the several witnesses who testified. When the motion for a new trial was argued counsel for the defendant sought to have the verdict set aside and a rehearing ordered on the grounds finally passed upon.