100 years ago: Local farmer sues streetcar company after collision with his wagon

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Jan. 4, 1914:

  • “Claiming that his hearing had been affected and that he sustained other permanent injuries when a street car struck a wagon which he was driving on September 30, Peter Hastie, a farmer, yesterday filed suit in the district court for $1,000 damages against the Lawrence Railway and Light Company. Hastie alleges that he was driving west on Elliott [Fourth] street on September 30 and that at Indiana street he turned south. Just as he turned he says a street car ran off the end of the Indiana street line and struck his wagon. He was thrown out and alleges that he received a number of injuries, one of which has affected his hearing in his left ear. Other injuries which the petition alleges Hastie received are bruises on the body and a sprained back.”
  • “The Water Company has declined the City Council’s proposition of submitting to a vote the purchase of the company’s property at $150,000. But while the company has thus blocked progress on the question for a time at least the company is eager for further discussions and negotiations and in its formal reply to the city has asked for another conference with a council committee.”
  • “A petition asking him to become a candidate for the office of Mayor of Lawrence under the Commission Form of Government was presented to Judge Hugh Means yesterday afternoon. This petition is signed by two hundred citizens of Lawrence who are asking Mr. Means to make the campaign for the office of the city’s chief executive. Upon receipt of the petition yesterday Mr. Means promised that he would make his answer to the public in a very few days.”
  • “Ottawa, Kan. — It is probable that Frank Schneck, of Franklin county, convicted of the murder of his wife and two babies, will be the principal witness for Warden J. D. Botkin of the Lansing penitentiary when the hearing is held on the charges of R. D. Jones, that he (Jones) was discharged in violation of the civil service rules. Schneck claims that he saw Jones suffocate to death Henry Thomas, a prisoner, in July, 1911, and that Jones offered him an opportunity to make his escape if he promised to say nothing of what he saw. Schneck declined and his signed statement against Jones will be presented by the warden.”