The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-28
BICYCLE MURDER.
No One to Prosecute Driver
Watson for Grace
PieFee's Death.

BROOKLYN, July %, 1sss-Walter
Watson. % years old. the driver of No.
76l Bergen street, Brooklyn, who drove
a team of horses in a walk over ten-year-
old Grace Pierce her bicycle yester-
day, causing her death, was arraigned
in the Butler Street Police Court this
morning before Police Justice Walsh. No
complainant appeared against the man.
Police Captain Campbell was disappointed
and asked Police Justice Walsh to hold
Watson for examination on a charge Of
vagraney till some other charge could be
framed.
Police Justice Walsh refused to do that.
He said that he would not discharge Wat
son then, but sent him to the Adams
Street Police Court. Police Justice Walsh
said that he would be there later to dis
pose Of the case. Meanwhile the police
captain went looking for a complainant.
Ihere are conflicting stories as to how
the U girl met her death. These will
probably never be cleared up. Captain
Campbell arrested Watson on the state
ment Of a citizen, who declared that he
heard the driver swear at the girl before
ne drove over her, telling her to get ont
Of the way, but, at the same time. MAX
ing no effort to check his team. This
man was not in court TO testify.
TIL accident happened almost IN front
o. the Montauk Club. which is on Eighth
avenue. near Flatbush avenue. The fesn
4 wagon belonged to Crawford & yalen-
tine, the contractors.
Grace Pierce was the daughter of Elisha
Fierce, an oil dealer, of No. 1896 Flafbrsh
avenue The child had never lone much
riding anywhere except on asphalt pave
ment. She usually rode on quiet thorough
fares.
Grace Pierce had turned off Flatbush
avenue into Eighth avenue. she made
the turn near the curve. The street there
mas a steep grade to it. At THE turn there
IS a deep depression in the pavement sur
rounding the storm sewer. When the girl
struck this she lost her balance. Her
Wheei darted first to one side and then
70 the other. and she could NOT regain
control Of it.
The front wheel slid toward the gutter
throwing her on her face, and the raar
stunned.
The team Of horses. driven by Watson
came trotoing around the corner. The
Wagon was loaded with asphalt. Eighth
nelng smooth and down a decided grade.
gave the heavily loaded wagon 4 mo-
fpem tna h 5ars to control The distance
child was but a few feet.
she saw her peril and shouted: .Oh.
STOP stop. Don't run over me!' The
downward course of his wagon. The
horses stopped, but the vehicle pushed
tfiEM on.
Watson turned the horses aside. but
me wheels pushed ahead on about the
same line, one OF them passing over the
child. crushing both her and her wheel.
Watson succeeded in stopping the wag-
on. He jumped out and ran back to the
girl. He lifted her and carried her to j
grass piot opposite. Grace Pierce didn't
appear TO suffer any pain. She was con-
scious. She said. I'm not much hurt,
a doctor was sent for. Watson resum-
ed his seat and drove on.
81 Tr Ta rerEfaff Tf GoS-ap+t . -o,,, .-s
Sterling place responded. He detected an
Internal heInorrhage and said that the
girl might die. They carried her home.
Mrs. Pierce met them on the way. Thu
child had stayed out longer than she
should. ana her mother was going to
look for her.
When she saw her mother the child
called out: I'm not badly hurt, mann
ma"
She told her mother what she remem-
bered of the accident. She said that she
saw Watson try to stop the wagon.
did stop the horses" she said. ssbut
they started up again."
Watson explained that his was due to
the loaded wagon pressing against them.