The sun., 1907-08-29
RACING AUTO KILLS WOMAN
MRS. L. T.. KELSEY WAS SPEEDING
WITH y. III. ELLIOTT.

Tney were Trying Out Racer on Morris Park
Track Her Husband Was IN Racing
Machine behind Tire Burst and Auto
Fell ON Her -she Was 10 Years Old.
While Stewart H. Elliott, president Of an
automobile concern AZ 1883 Broadway, was
driving a racing automobile at sixty mile
an hour clip around the Morris Park race
track last evening, the tire on front wheel
burst and the automobile whirled over.
Mrs. Leslie l.. Kelsey. the wife Of Robert @.
Kelsey, real estate operator, was caught
under the machine and crushed to death.
Elliott was badly hurt.
MIR. Elliott, Kelsey and William Basse
Of sos West Fifty-eighth street, were trying
out pair Of high power autos and getting
them in trim for the New York Motor Club
races, which are to be held at Morris Park
on September o. Mrs. Kelsey, as well as
her husband, Elliott and Basse, was an
enthusiastic automobilist and keenly inter-
ested in the racing end OF the sport.
The party went to Morris Park on Tues
the track at high speed, making more than
sixty miles an hour without a hitch or an
accident. Yesterday afternoon they went
up again TO give the cars another tryout.
Mrs. Kelsey insisted on riding with Mr..
Elliott in his 90 horsepower Packard. Her
husband and MIR. Basse drove a Haynes
Apperson.
Elliott was driving his own car and sent
the big machine at a terrific speed. Kelsey
and Basse followed all the way around about
100 yards behind Elliott and Mrs. Kelsey.
When they made the southwest turn Of the
track Elliotts racer was going at least
| fifty miles an hour.
As he took the turn the tire OF the right
front wheel burst and the wheel, unable
| 10 bear the strain, broke down. Almost
instantly the automobile turned a oom-
plete somersault, throwing Elliott fifty
feet ahead and aiittle TO the right. Mrs.
Kelsey's clothing caught in the machine
and probably held her fast.
The full weight of the machine fell on
her breast. crushing it. Mr. Kelsey and
Basse. close behind. just managed to sheer
of and dodge the wrecked machine. As
| quickly as they could bring their own car
to q standstill they hurried back to help
Mrs. Kelsey. Elliott picked himself up
and limped back TO his smashed car. His
face was cut and the clothing was ripped
and torn from the upper part Of his body.
He had three fingers broken. but he man
aged to help Kelsey and Basse lift the
machine on Mrs. Kelsey.
They called an ambulance from Fordham
Hospital and hurried Mrs Kelsey there as
! rapidly as possible. She died as they were
carrying her into the hospital.
After Elliott had been attended he was
arrested by Policemen Dwyer and Reed
OF the West Chester station and taken 10
the station house. Coroner Macdonald
was notified and sent for Elliott TO appear
before him. Elliott explained that they
had been racing but that they had not been
going as fast as on the day before The
accident wes caused by a weakened tire.
he said. and was unavoidable. He told
the Coroner that he was through with the
racing game and had had quite enough OF it
Mr. Kelsey. who made a statement 10
the Coroner. did not blame Elliott. The
accident was unavoidable. he thought.
and he said that Elliott was careful and
expert driver. Coroner Macdonald paroled
Elliott.
Mrs Kelsey was 70 years old. Her home
was at 43I Riverside Drive. Stewart H.
Elliott lives at 25i West Eighty-first street.
Mrs. Kelsey came from Toledo. Ohio.
She had been married four years and had
no children.