Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-13
WITNESS SAYS HOOK DROVE
RECKLESSLY
YOUNG MILLIONAIRE IN COURT
Son Of the Late Traction Magnste
Answers to Charge Of Man.
slaughter for Causing Death
Of Miss Birtwistle

seles. appeared in Justice Chambers
court yesterday afternoon for prellm-
mary examination on a charge of man
slaughter. Hook. 1t is alleged, while
driving at a high rate of speed in his
automobile, caused the death Of Miss
Marguerite Birtwistle.
The accident occurred Sunday, March
20, on Downey avenue, near Avenue
Twenty. Miss Birtwistle was return
ing home from trip to the city and
in an attempt to cross the street to her
home was struck and thrown fifty feet
by an automobile driven by young
Hook. The woman died three days
later from her injuries and coroner's
Jury returned a verdict of death from
accident and charged Hook with care
less driving and manslaughter.
Many Women In Court
More than hundred visitors, among
whom were many young women,
thronged the court room at the ex-
animation and spent the greater part
of their time in attempting 90 view the
defendant. At times when the evidence
seemed to be against young Hook a
slight murmur of sympathy would
burst from the fair spectators and the
bailiff was compelled repeatedly to call
the court to order.
Barbee Hook appeared in the court
room at O'Clock. He was accompa-
MED by his attorney w. ]. Hunsaker,
and by his brother, William Hook. At
torneys McComas, Fleming and Keyes
represented the prosecution and were
backed by nearly a score of witnesses.
The first day of the trial was taken
up with the testimony of DR.. Seamans
of 124 North Avenue Twenty, who was
called in attendance to Miss Birtwistle
several minutes after the accident. G.
e. Van Horn and E. w Mcleod, the
crew of a car which was passing at
the time Of the accident, were also wit
nesses.
Mrs. Birtwistle, mother of the de-
ceased, did not appear at court. 1t Isl
thought that Mrs. Birtwistle will not
be required to testify because of her
weakened condition as a result of the
shock OF Ihe accident.
Physicians Testimony
IT reached the side of Miss Mar
guerite Birtwistle a short time after
she was struck by the automobile"
testified DR.. Seamans. "At that time
the girl was lying in the street and a
great bruise over her left eye and an
other on her left shoulder showed
plainly where she was injured. | later
attended her at the receiving hospital
and at the Good Samaritan hospital.
She never recovered consciousness and
when we operated upon her we found
that part of the skull bone had been
crushed and was resting on the brain.
I saw her after she was dead and it is
my opinion that she came to her death
as result of injuries received in the
accident"
Motorman Van Horn was then called
to the stand. II was on my car passing
near the scene of the accident at the
time said the motorman." At the in
tersection of Avenue Twenty and
Downey street there is a grade of
about 40 per cent. The first I saw of
the machine it was swinging from one
side of the street to the other, going
at rate of about thirty miles an hour.
almost the next second after 1 first
noticed the auto the accident occurred,
and when I left my car and ran to the
place the young woman was lying in
the street. Barbee Hook came to her
and leaned over and looked into her
face. AS he arose and started toward
the sidewalk he put his hands to his
head and I heard him say, My God,
my Cod"
The testimony Of the conductor was
brief and told of Miss Birtwistle leav-
ing the car and crossing over 10 the
sidewalk at the time of the accident.
Girl to Testify
The court then adjourned until this
morning, when other evidence will be
introduced including that of Miss
frankie Babler, one of the young
women who was in the machine at the
time of the accident. Detectives Leon
and Benedict, who were detailed to
the case. have secured witnesses from
many places along the route of travel
taken by the autoists during the after
noon and expect to prove that the ma
chine was going at a high rate of
speed.
1t is understood that attorneys for
the defense will make a hard fight in
the lower court. The civil proceedings
have been dismissed since the arrival
of Mrs. Hook from Chicago several
days ago.
Upon the arrival in Los Angeles of
Mrs. Hook a conference was held with
the attorneys representing Mrs. Brit
wistle and an agreement was effected
whereby the civil suit was dismissed.
Mrs. Birtwistle, according 10 the
agreement. is to receive about $4OO a
year for the remainder of her life, and
bonds covering these payments have
been deposited with local trust COM
pany.
DiVOFce Suita Eilad