New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
JURY EXONERATES E. R. THOMAS FROM B
EXRAHROAD OFFICIAL KNOCKED DOWN By ELECTRIC CAB
EXPECTED DIE.
SAY BOY WAS BEWILDERED
WITNESSES DECLARE THAT WHITE
GHOST GAVE WARNING

Edward r. Thomas, the son of General Samuel
Thomas. and for one day president of the Sew
enth National Bank, the principal witness
yesterday at the inquest before Coroner SchoIer
into the death of Henry Theis seven years old.
Of No. 2,51I Eighth-ave who was killed on
February l. at Convent-ave. and One hundred
and-thirtieth-st. by the automobile OF Mr..
Thomas, the White Ghost formerly the prop
erty of William h. Vanderbilt, jr.
At the time OF the accident the automobile
was coming down heavy grade in Convent
ave With Mr.. Thomas was a party of friends
among whom were Alexander Nones, of No 661
Fifth-ave.. former director Of the Third Ave
nue. Railroad: his son Charles NOnes of No. 800
West Seventy-ffth-st., and William F. Carlton,
who lives at the Waldorf-Astoria and has an
office at No. II Broadway, where he is president
OF a corporation. Alfred Lauterbach. son Of
Edward Lauterbach. counsel for Mr..
Thomas. With him the elder Nones
Joseph Siegel, a schoolboy. fourteen years old,
the first witness. He saw young Theis play
ing ball in Convent-ave. when the White
Ghost swept down the grade. He said Mr..
Thomas was blowing the alarm horn Of his
machine. He coud not say how fast the ma
chine running.
Iohn Warren. sixteen years old. Of No. So
Amsterdam We said man who was seated
beside MI Thomas waved to Theis TO get out
or the way He sWore he vas playing oall with
a number of companions and that all the others
had time 20 get out Of the way Of the autOmo-
John Healey Of No 400 West One-hundred-
and-t d-tventv-fourth-st.. said the automobile made
a short turn 10 the left as if 10 avoid Theis who
was in the middle Of the street after the others
had Jumped away. Thomas J. Brady. sixteen
years old. Of No 142T Amsterdam and
James MCCIibbnn. sixteen years old, Of No.
Al West hundred "A nd Sixty -thrd-st.. gave
testimony of th@ same nature. John Reilley. Of
No. l.fb@ Amsterdam-sve-, saw the accident
from the window OF his home His testimony
agreed with that of former Witnesses He said
the machine was going at moderate speed. This
was IN answer 10 a question from Mr. l-auteT-
bach In answer TO Coroner SChOler he said the
automobile vas going about twelve miles an
hour Clarence De Witt, seventeen years old.
OF No 49, West One hundred and thirty first
ST. declared that the automobile had gone a
whole block after striking the bow before il could
be brought 70 a stop Eugene McDermOtt, six
teen years old. 4 schOOboy, OF No. 462 West One
hundred and thirty first-st. said the speed Of
the machine was so great that it scared Theis
and made him helpless.
George E. Hoyt. of Bridgeport. Conn. a rail-
road man asserted that the automobile was
running eight or nine miles hour when ii
struck the boy.
Alexander Nones said. II saw the boy stand
ing in the middle of the sidewalk Suddenly he
stepped into the street I waved my hand TO
the hoy. shouting to him to get out of the way.
I suppose he became bewildered and lost his
senses"
William J. Carlton gave similar testimony
Mr. Thomas, in telling how the accident hap
pened said, / was running down COuvent-ave..
when at One-hundred- and -thirty-third st I
saw crowd OF boys playing in the middle Of
the street L blew my whistle several times.
and the boys scattered on each side. Beyond
this / a little boy standing on the sidewalk
All OF a sudden the little fellow darted out into
the street and stopped. I swerved my machine
TO the left. and Mr.. Nones beckoued to the boy
to go back, but he seemed bewildered. and ran
directly in front OF the machine. 1t struck the
little fellow and hurled him aside. l had put
foot brakes and had shut OF the power. and
had done all l could 10 avoid the accident.
When I the boy never thought for a
ment that he would get in front Of the ma
chine
The jury. after eight minutes deliberation, re-
turned with a verdict generating Mr.. Thomas.