Special Collections Department
Papers Regarding
Robert Marshall Hannum
vs.
theWilmington City
Railroad Company
1901
Manuscript Collection Number: 98
(F105)
Accessioned: Gift of Mrs. Shirley
E. Foster, 2001
Extent: .1 linear feet (11 items)
Content: Accident reports, letter,
witness reports, and court document
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: March 2001 by Anita
A. Wellner
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Historical Note
On February 22, 1901, an accident involving a horse-drawn wagon, driven by Robert Marshall Hannum, and Wilmington City Railroad Co. trolley car no. 15 occurred at the intersection of 6th and Market Streets in Wilmington, Delaware. The eleven handwritten accident reports, eye witness accounts, and court declaration comprising this small collection document the accident and the subsequent lawsuit brought by Mr. Hannum.
Documentation includes accident reports completed by the conductor of the car, Adolph Edwards, and by the car’s motorman, William Anseaume, as well as the reports from five individuals who witnessed the accident. The witnesses were James Horty, Paul Isenschmid, George Black (Captain of Police), Michael Donohue, and Howard R. Witt.
Within a week of the accident Mr. Hannum wrote a letter (included in the collection) to The Wilmington City Railroad Co. in which he requested restitution for damage to his wagon and personal injury. In May of 1901 Mr. Hannum filed a lawsuit in which he sought reimbursement for these damages and injuries. His suit claimed incompetence and carelessness on the part of the motorman.
An accident report for a separate and unrelated incident, which occurred on February 21, 1901, is also included in the collection. This accident involved a horse and wagon owned by a Miss Price, but driven by an unidentified individual, and Wilmington Railroad Co. car no. 25. This accident report was completed by motorman T. L. Daniels.
Contents List
Box -- Folder -- Contents
4 F105
Documents regarding Robert Marshall Hannum vs. The
Wilmington City Railroad Co.,1901
Accident report completed by Adolph Edwards, 1901 Feb 22
Accident report completed by William Anseaume, 1901 Feb 22
Small hand-drawn diagram of the intersection where the
accident occurred, [n.d.]
Report of witness James Horty, 1901 Mar 6
Report of witness Paul Isenschmid, 1901 Feb 25
Report of witness George Black, 1901 Feb 26
Report of witness Michael Donohue, 1901 Feb 28
Report of witness Howard R. Witt, 1901 Feb 23
Autograph letter from Robert M. Hannum, 1901 Feb 25
Typed court declaration, 1901 Oct 2
Document regarding an accident involving The Wilmington City
Railroad Co. and a wagon owned by Miss Price, 1901 Feb 21
Accident report completed by T. L. Daniels, 1901 Feb 21
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Last modified: 01/19/11
