The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-26

a 4J-hOrSep0Wer motor car, occupied
by Mrs L. T. Letter and relatives, ran
down and killed Samuel West, a four
teen-y ear-oId coIored boy, shortly after
II o'clock yesterday morning at the cor
ner of Fourteenth street and Columbia
road. Joseph Letter Franklin Reming-
ton. of New York, Mrs. Letters nephew,
and his wife, and the chauffeur and a
footman were with Mrs. Letter in the
automobile at the time.
Young West had just left a Mount
Pleasant street car, going north. The
machine was going in the same direction
on the west side Of the thoTOughfare.
According to the witnesses, the lad did
not look behind when he started toward
the curbing He was killed instantly,
his head being crushed by one of the big
cars wheels.
Charles H. Raymond. for years chauf-
feur for Mrs Gardiner Hubbard, was run
ming the motor at the time He had been
hired By Mrs. Letter because he was con
sidercd a reliable and careful driver.
Thinks Warming Was Not Sounded.
Representative Joseph Y. Graf. of Hi
nOis. and his son got of the street car
at the same corner. Joseph Graft, jr..
started TO cross the street directly in the
path of the automobile. and was warned
of the danger by his father. Young
Graft stepped 10 one side and the machine
passed within two feet OF him. He is
student at Dartmouth College, and is
here spending the holidays with his ia
Their Representative Graf does not be-
lieve that the chauffeur sounded a note Of
warning.
The motor was running at about six or
seven miles an hour at the time of the
accident, according TO witnesses. Upon
striking the boy the car was stopped
within its own length. The wheels had
passed over the victims head. The body
was not dragged along the pavement
Sergt. c. \. Carlson. Of the Tenth pre-
cinct. witnessed the occurrence. Joseph
Letter and the footman got out Of the
automobile at once and went to see if
anything could be done for the boy.
Chauffeur Raymond was taken to the
Tenth precinct station, together with the
Letter party in the automobile Accom-
panied by Policeman Green, Mrs. Letter
Letter mansion in Dupont Circle After
ward Raymond was taken to the station
house. Coroner hewitt was notified, as
was Attorney Ralph Given Bail was
fixed In the sum Of 5000. This was fur
nished by Mr.. Letter. and the man was
released. Mrs. Letter. her son. and the
footman were summoned as witnesses to
appear at the inquest to be held this
morning at II o'clock. Mr.. and Mrs. Rem
ington were excused from appearing Ray
mond lives at l340 I street.
Unavoidable. says Mrs. Letter.
Mrs Letter and her companions were on
their way to the country for ride. Mr.
and Mrs Remington came to Washington
10 spend Christmas with Mrs Letter The
four were on the inside of the vehicle.
which is a covered affair. the driver and
f0otman occupying the front seats. Mrs.
Letter was very much affected by the ac-
cideut last night She does not believe
that her chauffeur is in any way 10
blame
Tt is a particularly unfortunate hap
pening, but it was simply unavoidable"
Mrs. Letter said last evening at her resi-
dence. I'VE were not going more than
six rifles an hour, I am sure, Mrs. Letter
continued. THE poor little colored boy
got off the car and. without looking
around. stepped directly in the path Of
the machine. Before the car could be
turned out of the way or brought to a
stop the boy had been knocked down and
run over.
THE driver sounded the horn, I am
sure. He is a particularly cautious man,
and I hired him only a short time ago on
this account. He worked for Mrs.
Gardiner Hubbard for years. He was at
tending strictly 10 his duties. 7 am
awfully sorry the accident happened. If