Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-30
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
The Head of a Child Crushed by the
wheels or a Streee-Car.
The Facts that were Developed by the
Jury Of Inquest.

THE most terrible accident that occurred
since the street cars went into operation,
startled the people at the corner of Main and
Poplar streets, Yesterday. The victim of the
misfortune was n little boy, between two and
three years of age, who was crushed 10 death
by the wheel of car No. . passing
his head, at the same time that his mother
was much stunned and her clothing torn. The
event seems to have been one of those fatali-
ties which precaution canh ardly guard
against.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE.
as well as they could be gathered from many
sources are these; The driver of car No. =,
Of the Poplar street route, Masterson by
name, was a careful man, stopped, as drivers
must, at the corner of Main, to fix or arrange
the switch with an iron rod that Is carried for
the purpose. This was q few minutes past
two O'Clock yesterday. AT the same time a
lady named Mrs. BiSchof, with her little boy,
between two and three years old, was on mel
way down to buy q hat at one of our dry goods
stores, and had reached the corner OF Poplar
street. Whether she saw the car or minded
{ is questionable, or II she did she must nave
thought 10 was ON the other track, and that
she could get across in time to avoid II. She
started across the street, however, and
the mule started to go before the
driver had got fully prepared TO let him
out. The driver may not have seen
the lady, for it is his duty to look after the
passengers that were on the inside and 10 sec to
his ticket box. Whether he can legally per-
form this duty to the neglect of bis mule is a
matter for the courts to determine. The mule
rushed on round the turn, and the lady rushed
across hestreet with the boy aSi if driven ON by
fate. person inside the car saw her danger
and rang the bell, but too late. The woman was
knocked down and her clothing torn by the
hOOfs of the mule. The childs' head was
crushed under the wheels of the car, a large
cash being cut in the side of the skull which
was broken and driven in on the BRAIN. his
death was immediate. His mother was car
ried into the fruit store at the corner in an in
sensible condition. When she recovered, she
called for her child. but he could not answer.
He was not there. Her distress was terrible as
the fearful truth flashed upon her that he had
persisted under the wheels OF the disastrous
vehicle.
THE INQUEST.
The car driver, was arrested, and the jury Of
inquest ummoned by Justice Miller TO look
into the case. The jury found the following
verdict.
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
shelby county.
An iuquisitiOn holden in the city of Mem
phis, on this the twenty-ninth) day of April,
lS2-R. b. Miller, Justice of the Peace, acting
C0rQnori the jurors, upon their oaths, present.,
that the dead body berOre them is that of
Willie BischOff, age between two and three
years old, and came to his death by the care
leSsness of MasteTsqn, while driving q street
in the city of Memphis, il appearing to the
Jury that at the same time that he was driv-
ing said car entirely too fast, ard turning a
curve with great carelessnesss In testimony
whereof, we have heTeunto set our hands and
seals, this the day and date above written.
II. b. MILLER, j. p.
PETER TOWNSEND.
RO. WEIR.
JAMES BOWLER.
W. o. LOELAND.
+, ], ATWOOD.
S. A. MORTON.