THE PRICE OF A FOOT - John Markey 1893

MARKEY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/30/2017 at 10:45:19

Dubuque Daily Herald, November 3, 1893
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THE PRICE OF A FOOT
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John Markey Sues the C., B. & N.
For $10,000
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John Markey, through his attorney, yesterday afternoon filed his petition in a suit against the Chicago, Burlington and Northern Railroad Company for $10,000 for personal injuries. Markey was besting his way on a south-bound freight train of the night of Sept. 16. He was clinging to a ladder on the side of one of the cars as the train sped along near Portage Curve, when a brakeman on top of the car told him to get off or have his face kicked in. Markey explained that in his position that he refused to jump unless the train was stopped, but when he observed the brakeman was about to carry out his threat scrambled down in a hurry. His foot caught in the bottom round of the ladder and as he fell to the ground was badly crushed. The train was then stopped, but the crew, after laying him alongside the track, boarded the train, which proceeded on its way. He lay there for a long time before he was picked up by another trainman and brought to Dubuque. He alleges that because of the neglect of the train crew to promptly summon medical and surgical service he was obliged to suffer the amputation of the crushed foot.