The Switzerland County, Indiana, Common Pleas Court report appeared in:
Vevay Reveille – 3 Dec 1870 – Page 2, Column 2

Special Term of Common Pleas Court—Judge Carter

James A. Works vs. W. T. Pate & Co.–$5,000.00 Damages.

A special term of this Court assembled in this place last Tuesday for the purpose of trying this case. A Jury having been impaneled the trial commenced, and continued until Wednesday evening, and on Thursday morning the case was submitted to the Jury, who after about seven hours deliberation returned a verdict giving Mr. Works $250.00 damgages.

The following are the circumstances which led to the suit: On the night of August 6, 1869, Mr. Works was landed at the Wharf boat at Patriot, and desiring to go on shore, stepped onto a stage plank, which passed from the Wharf boat across a corn boat to a float. It was dark and Works could not see, but continued to walk on the plank supposing it led ashore, but the end of the plank was three feet above the float, (that is the corn boat was three feet higher than the float) which distance Mr. Works when arriving at the end of it, fell, bruising his arm, and partially dislocating his left shoulder. Works brought suit for damages on account of the injuries received, with the above result.

The following Attorneys were employed in the case:

• For the Defendants—Will M. Smith, H. A. Downey, and C. E. Walker.
• For the Plaintiff—Adkinson & Livings, and Harrington & Korbly.