Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-25
MEETS INSTANT DEATH
CoIOred Lad Run Down by Big
Automobile.
BODY TAKEN TO MORGUE
The Touring Car Was Owned by zoe"
Letter.
BOYS HEAD WAS CRUSHED
Mrs. L. 2. Letter and Friends Were
Passengers Aboard the Car
Chauffeur Arrested.
OY'S HEAD WAS CRUSHED

JumpiH2 street car just as it
stopped Fl the corner of 18th street and
Columbia road shortly after IL o'clock this
morning Samuel West, colored, fourteen
years old, was knocked down, run over and
instantly killed by big touring automobile
belonging to Joe" Letter. Chauffeur
Charles H. Raymond was at the wheel, and
Mrs. L. q. Letter, mother of the owner Of
the car and of the late Lady Curzon, and
York were in the tonneau.
The body of the boy was taken to the
tenth precinct police station and later to
the morgue. Raymond was arrested and
held to await the result of the inquest,
o'clock tomorrow morning. Arrangements
will be made this afternoon to have Ray
mond released under bond.
According to statements of witnesses the
14th street car stopped at the Columbia
road corner at exactly 11:15 o'clock, and in
addition to the little colored boy there
alighted from the rear platform at the
same time Representative Joseph V. GRAN
of Illinois, his son. who is student at
Dartmouth. and several other passengers.
Mr.. Graft declared afterward that he heard
no warning foot of the auto horn and he
said his son NARROWLY missed going down
What Eyewitness Say.
Other witnesses say the automobile was
moving at a not very rapid pace, and it
was stopped within its own length after
passing over the body of the colored boy.
All accounts agree that Samuel West was
the first passenger to alght from the street
car and he started on the run toward the
grocery store of Wildman d Co.., 14o6 Col
umbia road, where he was employed. He
was less than half way to the sidewalk
when the big touring car struck him, and
he fell Immediately beneath the machine,
one wheel passing over his head and
crushing his skull.
Police Sergeant Carlson of the tenth pre-
cinct was within a short distance of the
corner, and witnessing the entire affair. was
one of the first to reach the side of the
victim. He placed the body Of the boy on
the parking and summoned DR.. Robert L.
Lyn2h and DR.. Daniel Birtwell, both of
Who'll have offices nearby Both declared
life 81 be extinct. The tenth precinct patrol
conveyed the body to the police station,
whence it was later removed to the morgue.
The automobile stopped as soon as the ac-
cident occurred, and it was said that Vests
body was dragged not more than the length
of the car. Mrs. Letter and her guests
jumped from the car to see is they could
be of any assistance, but the unfortunate
boy was beyond human aid.
Mrs. Letter Shocked.
Sergeant Carlson took the automobile
party to the police station, and Chauffeur
Raymond was afterward permitted to pilot
the car back to the Letter mansion Bicy-
Gle Policeman Green being detailed to ac-
company the car and to bring Raymond
back to the police station At the station
house Raymond gave his age as twenty
nine years and his residence as 1910 1
street.
He said he had been driving automo-
biles for four years and that the acct
dent today was the first in which he had
figured.
Mrs Letter and Mr.. and Mrs. Reming-
ton were greatly shocked by the acct
dent Mrs. Letter while at the police
station said she har discharged one chauf-
feur only few days ago because he ran
the car too rapidly and was arrested.
She never wanted to travel at a high
speed, she said, and Raymond, when he
entered her employ about week ago,
was instructed to that effect.
Samuel West lived at 2204 nth stree.
northwest.