The sun., 1898-06-05
KILLED BY A
TROLLEY CAR
Mrs. Mary McClaffer'y Meets
Death at Front and King
Streets.
HER HEAD HORRIBLY CRUSHED
Unused to the City She Became Be-
wildered and Was Struck by Car
No. OF, in Charge of Motor
man Harkins and COnduc-
tor Shafner.

A distressing accident occurred yester-
day afternoon about 4.l5 at the corner Of
Front and King streets.
An old lady, apparently about 60 years
OF age, came down King street on her
wav to the station. Reaching the corner
Of Front and King streets she found a
RivervieW car going west on Front
street, just about to pass the crossing
Waiting until the car had gone by she
stepped behind it, and crossing the west
bound tracks, walked Immediately in
front Of car No. 81 of the Eighth and
Union streets line, going toward the
depot.
The old lady, evidently unaccustomed
to the city, became bewildered, and be-
fore she could realize her position she
was struck on the right side by the car
and thrown to the ground
Her head struck the cobblestones With
a sickening crash and she was pushed
along the track by the car tenders for
some ten or twelve feet.
When the woman fell she carried two
or three packages in her hand They
were scattered in all directions and one
containing pair of shoes was cut COM
pletely in twain by the car wheels.
The persons near there noted the
position in which the woman had fallen,
her feet being directly across the track,
and seeing the shoes laying on the street,
came at once to the conclusion that her
feet had been cut off. ......
She was picked up bleeding profusely
from wound in the head and carried to
the side walk by William Irons, colored,
of Second and Walnut streets. She was
entirely unconscious.
1t is said by those who witnessed the
accident that the trolley OF car 81 slipped
the wire while coming down Front street
Just previous to the accident and that
Conductor Shafner was endeayoring, to
place the wheel back upon the wire as
the accident occurred.
Immediately upon connections being
made the car. s!iGt-alfead and struck the
W3nan Notorman Harkins at once re-
yarseql the current and the car was backed
some ten or fifteen feet. Detective Van
degrift was at once sum noned, and ac-
companed by Slperinten ent Fox came
up N the scene and obtained the names
of the witnesses.
Il ne police alluu'allCG was dp oliGo
SUNNI med and the unfortunate woman
taken to Delaware Hospital where she
died a few minutes after her arrival
without regaining consciousness.
Upon her person were found checks
and receipts to the amount OF some sixty
odd dollars signed by George B. Nc
Claffertv, Greenvlle, Del. From this
fact and that the old lady was evidently
going toward the W. & n. r. R. station,
on which road Greenvile is located, it is
presumed that she was either the mother
or some relation to Mr. McClafferty.
The lady was removed to the morgne
of Undertaken Chandler. Car 81 was in
charge of Motor man G. +. Harkins, who
was arrested, and Conductor Ira G.
Shafner.
At 7.3O yesterday evening the body
was identified as Mrs. Mary McClafferty,
the mother of George b. McC!affe rty OF
GreenviIle, Del. Friends OF the deceased
came in and identified the body. 1t was
taken in charge by Undertaken Charles
b. Douyherty at s p. n and conveyed
to Gpenvile to the home of her son.
An inquest will be held Monday even
ing.