Lippincott Widow Sues for $225,000

Camden Courier-Post – October 13, 1931

Haddon Heights Woman Files Action Against Railroad for Mate’s Death

Suit for $255,000 was filed in New Jersey Supreme Court yesterday by Mrs. Margaret Lippincott against the Atlantic City Railroad in the death of her husband, Willet Lippincott, of 106 Station Avenue, Haddon Heights, a real estate operator and son of Benjamin A. Lippincott, first mayor of Haddon Heights.

The widow, mother of four children, charges that her husband met his death on the morning of July 23 at the Warwick Road crossing at Magnolia. Lippincott’s truck, loaded with hay, obtained from the farm of his mother, Mrs. Laura Lippincott, on Warwick road, was struck by a northbound Ocean City-Camden train. Lippincott was killed, and the truck and hay set afire when the gasoline tank exploded.

Papers in the suit have been prepared by former Senator Albert S. Woodruff and S. Huntley Beckett, attorneys. Allegations are made in the suit that the railroad was negligent in failing to protect the crossing, which is termed in the charges as “extra-dangerous and extra-hazardous.”

It is alleged further that a signal light at the crossing failed to work properly at the time of the tragedy, and that a curve of the railroad, a bank of earth, poles and other obstacles obstructed the view of an approaching train. No bell or whistle was sounded from the engine of the train, it is charged.

Lippincott met his death although he alighted from his truck to look up and down the tracks at the crossing, according to Woodruff. He had seen a southbound train pass, but was struck by the northbound train. Passengers on the northbound train included Magistrate Dennis F. Fitzgerald, of Philadelphia; Mayor Roy R. Stewart, Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin, City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly, Byron M. Seabrook, and Jerome Hurley, of the Hurley Stores, all of whom had summer homes at Ocean City.

Children surviving Lippincott include Priscilla, 8; Benjamin, 6; Summitt, 4, and Scott W. Lippincott, 1 year old.