Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1893 — Jasper County Sued for $10,000. [ARTICLE]

Jasper County Sued for $10,000.

Jasper county has gist been made the defendant in a ten thousand dollar damage suit The party bringing the suit is John L._ Allman, ss administrator of the estate of the late Reuben P. Eyan, whose tragic death last winter, at- the bridge over Carpenter’s creek, a half mile west of Remington, was fully described at the time. The complaint alleges that on the 11th day of February, 1883, on a public highway was a bridge, about an eighth mile north of the center of section 24, township 27, range 7, in said county, and across Carpenter’s creek. That it was the duty of the county to maintain and keep in repair the bridge. That the approaches to the bridge were carelessly constructed and allowed to become out of repair. The north approach being a high grade, unprotected by railings or side logs, and so narrow on top as to be dangerous to pass and drive over. On the date above mentioned Ryan attempted to drive over bridge, with a team of horses and a load of hay, and by reason of the dangerous condition of the bridge and approaches, and without fault upon his part, just as the team reached the bridge, the wagon slipped off the high narrow grade, and Ryan was thrown off on to the ice in the creekjbelow, a distance of some 35 feet, and instantly killed. He was 37 years old, and .left a widow and five children, the oldest nine years old, the youngest an infant, in destitute circumstances. - \ Ryan was a sober, industrious man, entirely dependent upon his daily labor for support of himself and family, and during his life did maintain and support his wife and children in a manner suitable to their degree and station in life.