THE LEBICH FAMILY – STORIES!!
Lebich, Martin
The 15,400 damage suit brought by
Michael Lebich of Porterfield, administrator of the estate of his son, Martin
Lebich, against Raymond Roehl of Menominee, driver of a car which was involved
in a crash with Lebich's motorcycle, an accident which resulted in Lebich's
death, went into it's second day of trail here in Marinette Co. Court today
with judge William F. Haase presiding. In addition to the 15,400 damages asked
for medical and hospitalalization expenses and losses of companionship and
society, the plaintiff requests $150.00 damages for the motorcycle.
Stipulations were effected on the amount of damage to the vehicle, medical and
hospital expenses, and as to pain & suffering. Litigants agreed that the
youth died without regaining consciousness and that no damages for the pain and
suffering are involved. Pleadings assert the accident occurred between 10:30
and 11:00 o'clock on the evening of Saturday, June 6, 1942, when Roehl's car
and Lebich's motorcycle collided on highway US-41 three miles south of the
Marinette City limits near the entrance to the Pete MacDonald tavern. With
Roehl at the time was Edward Cook of Peshtigo. Riding on the tandem seat of
Lebich's motorcycle was Miss Joyce Gamlin, 16, of 224 Bayshore Street who
sustained minor injuries. The accident occurred when Roehl was leaving the
MacDonald tavern and was crossing highway US-41 to go north from the north end
of the tavern's horseshoe shaped private driveway. Lebich was driving his
motorcycle south on US-41 enroute to the Morning Star tavern when the two
vehicles collided as Roehl was cutting across 41 in a northeasterly direction.
Cramer told leaving Menominee with Lebich, and George Huebner of the town of
Peshtigo, each driving a motorcycle with girls, bound for the Morning Star
tavern and dance hall, near Peshtigo. Cramer said he was about a half mile
north of Lebich at the time of the crash, but did not see the accident. Huebner
was following Cramer, Cramer testified. "I got a flash of a motorcycle
skidding toward our car at terrific speed," Edward Cook testified today in
stating that he was the first to reach Lebich following the crash. His
testimony largely corroborated that given by Roehl yesterday. Others who took
the stand were Joyce Gamlin, Margaret Lebich, Michael Lebich, and Clarence
Rowe, Porterfield town chairman who was employed as a character witness, all
for the plaintiff; and Sheriff Kohlman, Evelyn Sharon, Violet Conrad, and
Edward Cook.