Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-09-17
HIS NECK BROKEN
Norris TsieIs Auio Plunged Over Embankmeui This
 Noo1. Killing Him
WAS BIG CONTRACTOR

Morris Tafel of S1 Division street, a member of the contracting firm oi Tafel & Shapiro, met with horrible death at noon to-day, when his auto mobile plunged over an embankment running from Carter avenue to the Watertown road and killed him al' most instantly. Tafel's neck was broken and his skull was fractured, the man dying within five minutes after the machine took its awful plunge.
 It is the general supposition that Tafel lost control of the auto, which was a forty horse power Aero car. Why he did not jump from the ma- chine is mystery that will never be cleared, for it seems that he knew the car was beyond his control.
 On Carter avenue, which joins the Watertown road near Sunderland 8 blacksmith shop, is sharp turn about 300 feet from the end. It was while trying to take this turn that Tafels machine went bounding over the embankment and struck tree which upset the auto. When tho car struck the tree Tafel was un- doubtedly hurled from his seat. It is thought that the car then turned over and in its fall to the pile of rocks about seventy feet below dragged Tafel with it.. When found Tafels head was resting upon pile of stones, while his left foot was caught between one of the wheels of the car and the step. The machine was badly injured, but 1t is surpris- ing why it was not demolished, con sidering what it went through.
 Although Tafel's body was dragged at least a distance of fifty feet, it was not scratched, with the exception of the injuries to the head and neck, Not a bone was broken and the com dition of his body showed that he bled very little.
 F. H. Robinson, driver for A. ". Flint & Go of New Haven, was the first to reach the side of the injured man. He was going along the street when the cries of a couple of young girls attracted his attention and turning around he saw the automo- bile just at it landed on the rocks near the side of, the Watertown road. Pushing over the machine he found Tafel in dying condition pinned al- most. directly under it. The only part of his body visible were his head and one foot. Tafel was alive at the time but he died five minutes after. Robin son reached his side. According to Miss Marion Brown, a young girl who lives in the vicinity, who was going up Carter avenue when Tafel was coming down in the machine, he lost control of his car She says he yelled loudly to her, Look out I have lost control of the car"
 A moment later he came to the sharp turn.
 Men familiar with automobiles on looking over the tracks of the wheels in the road do not think that Tafel even came close to making the turn. He apparently did not have any brakes on for there was no sign of the machine having done any skid ding. It was probably going so fast that it was impossible for Tafel to work the brakes. It took a large piece out of the tree that it crashed into. but evidently did not strike it squarely. The machine it is thought turned over only once in it's plunge down the hill and slid the remainder of the way to the bottom. The grade of the embankment is about eighty per cent and as there is no protection at the top of it 1t is very dangerous spot.
 Tas'l, it is said, had contrac. to build house on Bunker Hill and was up there this morning looking over the ground. It was about 12 o'clock that he was coming down the hill for MT Robinson said it was just five minutes after 12 when he found him under the machine.
 The car was purchased by Tafe in New York some months ago. Ii " do all Olu iuathiIt Dul was d ldlutl powerful one. MT Tafel was accus toned to have his son with him but this morning was alone.
 Dr Goodenough reached the scene of the accident about half an houl after 1t happened but there was lit tie to be done; acting for Mesica Examiner Crane he had the body re moved to Lunny's morgue after hs had taken the valuables from tht clothes. In addition to his golt watch and few other things Tafe had s200 in money.
 Medical Examiner Crane examined the remains this afternoon at tn, morgue but could find no injurie, besides the fractured skull and brok en neck.
 Besides his wife afel leaves foul daughters and one son. He has livet all his life in this city and witl his partner. Mir Shapiro, had yer! nrnsnerOus businpss