The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-10
AUTOMOBILE GETS
A WOhAN'S SCALP
Margaret DOueherty Nearly
Killed in New York.
HER HAIR TN CRANK SHAT
Fen Backward Into Machinery While
Aighting, and Was Rescued
With Difficulty.
HER HAIR IN CRANK SHAFT

NEW YORK, Aug. 0.--Diners in the
Casino restaurant in Central Park were
thrown into excitement by an accident
which nearly proved fata. TO Miss Mar
earet Dougherty, of 3l6 North Street.
Rochester, y. y Her hair was caught
IN the machinery of an automobile, and
her scalp was almost torn of before
the running gear could be stopped and
the woman's head extricated-
With Miss Dougherty were Frank
Edwards. of this city. and two women
companions. 1t was the busiest part Of
the dinner hour and the Casino was
crowded. when their automobile, driven
by John Johnson. brought up nj the
main entrance and the occupants began
TO alight
Although The wheels were at stand
still, the machinery Of the vehicle was
stiIl in operation.
Edwards had already assisted Miss
Dougherty TO the ground while the
other women were still In the automo-
bile. when. mounting the steps leading
to the cafe, her foot caught in her
dress ana she fell backward
In Crank Shaft.
Her head struck against the forward
part of the machine and her hair was
Instantly caught IN the crank shaft,
which was turning rapidly. For a mo-
ment the spectators feared that she
would he beheaded. but the machinery
was brought TO a stop and the woman,
already unconscious, was lifted out.
It was found that the back part OF
the scalp had been torn away, and a
telephone message was sent TO the Pres
byterian Hospital DR.. Lathrop soon ar
rived in an ambulance, and Miss Dough-
~ MAJ FOL 20 fFlN Nor
Il was said last night that she was in
a serious but not necessarily critical con-
dition.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature
OF the accident was the bravery dis
played by the victim. although several
ether women tainted during the excite
ment. AS Miss DOugherty's hair became
enmeshed in the crank shaft OF the au-
tomobile the latter wound IL up until the
Woman's head had been pulled to the END
Of the shaft. and II was then that II
ripped or the scalp.
Screamed Only Once.
All this had occurred In the space Of a
few seconds. ard il was seen that unless
the machinery were quickly stopped or
Miss Dougherty's head extricated she
would probably be killed. Policeman
keenan,, OF the Central Park squad. and
two mounted policemen had been attract
ed to the place by the screams of the
women and the shouts Of the men. and
ran up 70 the steps of the Casino.
Keenan, lifted the woman out from be-
tween the steps and the side Of the auto
mobile. but he found that some hairs =
her head stin chung fast TO the head OF
the crank shaft. He whipped out his
knife. severed them. and released her.
Although suffering aEOnizing pain al
this time. Miss Dougherty had screa med
only once. After that she bore herseli
With wonderful fortitude. while the 9TH
ers tried 10 free her.
The man with her conduct himself
rather mysteriOusly. saying that he lived
a I 1913 Riverside Drive. a number that
does not exist. and that Miss DOugherty
was Miss Smith. OF the same address. o
The other women 81 the AUTOMOBILES
he said. were Miss Dougherty's sisters
Immediately after Miss DOugherty had
been taken 10 the hospital. Edwards
as ne called himself. directed the chauf-
feur 70 drive rapidly away. which he
did.