The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-13
BOY IS KILLED
BY AUTOMOBILE
Second Staying in New Haven
County by Vance Shearer,
the Bridgeport
Chauffeur.
SCH00LB0Y THE VICTIM
Driver Was Taking Yale Students for
spin Down to the University
Crew House When Acct
dent Occurred.
ScHooLBOY THE VICTIM

A large Peerless automobile driven
ny Vance Shearer of Bridgeport, the
demonstrator of that company, ran in
TO and almost instantly killed John
Lynch, ten year old boy, at the
bridge across Chapel street, near East
street yesterday afternoon about 4
o clock. The car was filled with Yale
students, who were being taken to
the Yale boathouse by Shearer.
The Lynch boy had come from
school in the afternoon to his home at
chapel and East streets, and then
started out to play with the oher boys
Of the neighborhood. He started
across the street on the bridge when
the automobile came along right in
front of him. The boy stood facing
the auto, not knowing whether TO go
forward or not, and after a second of
hesitation started back But 1t was
too late and the automobile knocked
him down and ran over him.
The students and Shearer stopped
the machine Immediately and picking
up the dying boy carried him to the
nearest physicians, Dr Roberts Of
Grand avenue where he died within a
few minutes from a fractured skull
and a broken neck. His father, Dam
lei Lynch, was summoned and arrived
just before the boy died
Shearer was immediately arrested
by Officer Deegan OF the Grand ave-
nue. precinct, and held under $1,000
bonds furnished later in the evening
by Thomas Farnam at the request of
the students who were with Shearer.
1t was entirely an accident that the
students happened to be in the ma
chine. Shearer came up to the city
to demonstrate the machine to one of
the Yale crew squad. and went TO
Vanderbilt hall to get him There he
was informed that the student was
down at the harbor and so he invited
number of students to take spin
down, The following students accept
ed and were in the automobile when
the accident occurred. Thomas Hook
er OF Hartford. Sidney r. Overall OF
st Louis, Arthur NJ Whitehall Of
Newburg, seniors. and Francis w.
Murray Of New York and Frederick
Wilder Bellamy of Brooklyn. juniors.
Bellamy was recently elected leader Of
the Yale Banjo club for next year.
The students and Shearer claim that
the machine was not going faster than
eight miles an hour when the boy was
struck They say that Lynch ran in
front of the car and that Shearer
tried Immediately to stop IT, the ma
chine stopping few feet beyond the
spot where It's back wheels passed
over the victim. Officers Londrlean
and Lawlor of Grand avenue were out
last night getting testimony in regard
to the accident, some of which was 10
the effect that the automobile was go-
ing faster than the rate stated.
Last summer an automobile driven
by Shearer struck and killed Miss
Grace Cruttenden of West Haven as
she was stepping off a trolley car on
Campbell avenue. Coroner Mix In
vestigated the case at the time and
Shearer was exonerated from all
blame.
Last night Deputy Coroner Philip
Pond inquired of Shearer If he were
not the man driving the automobile
which caused Miss Cruttendens death
and he replied Unfortunately, yes"
To-day Mr.. Pond will examine other
| witnesses