Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-04
AUTOIST LEAVES
VICTIM BEHIND
SPECTATORS INTERFERE ON
BEHALF OF NEWSB0Y
LAD FINALLY LEFT ON CURB AND
GIVEN A QUARTER
Young Armenian Seriously Injured.
Chauffeur and Passenger Drive
Away, Latter Evading Efforts
at Identification

Sammy Musheegan, years DID,. an
Armenian newsboy, was struck by an
automobile at Sixth and Hill streets
yesterday afternoon and seriously in
jured. The driver of the auto, large
touring car painted black, without the
manufacturer name or number, at
tempted to hurry away, but was
stopped by angry citizens and com
PEELED to look after the injured boy.
The lad was placed in the motor car,
taken to Third and Hill streets, given
a quarter as a sop for his injuries and
wounded feelings and left crying on
the curb.
Sammy and his brother Bonnie, 5
years old, live with their parents at
507 Pecan street. Their father earns a
meager living buying and selling junk
and the lads assist by selling neWspa-
pers after school.
The brothers work together and are
inseparable companions. Bonnie usu-
ally sells his wares at Sixth and Hill
streets and his brother assists him
Yesterday afternoon Sammy started
across the street, when an auto, going
at a good rate of speed, struck MIN
and knocked him down.
In the motor car were the driver ana
man who occupied rear seat. AS
soon as the latter saw the boy fall he
leaned forward and whispered some
thing to the chauffeur. The latter, who
had brought the auto to stop, APP
Piled the power and was starting away
when stopped by the crowd which had
rushed from the park to the boys aid.
Some one suggested that the proper
thing to do would be to take the lad
to the receiving hospital. The man in
the auto accepted the suggestion with
alacrity, and Sammy and his brother
were placed in the rear seat. TN take
him to the hospital and see that he gets
the proper attention." he is alleged to
have said. The crowd dispersed and
the auto was driven north on Hill
street.
When the motor car was nearing
Third street the occupant of the car is
said to have leaned forward again and
whispered something to the driver. The
latter nodded his head and drove
alongside the curb. Then the man
who seemed to have charge of the auto
handed the injured boy quarter and
put both lads out.
Urged TO Assist
At this time Frank Reiter, a waiter
at the Rainier cafe, Second and Broad
way, who heard the lad crying bitter
ly, approached the donor of the quar-
ter and asked the latter why he did
not take the boy to the receiving hos
pital
II saw the lad was suffering" said
Reiter land decided to investigate. l
asked the man why he did not take
care of the boy, and he replied that he
did not know where to take ldm. l
told him to take him to the receiving
hospital, where he would be given the
proper attention. The fellow answered
that he did not know where the place
was, and added that he had important
business to attend to and did not have
time to fool with the boy.
''I was greatly surprised at his ac-
ton and spoke sharply to him. When
/ saw he intended to abandon the lad
at the curb I asked him to give me one
of his cards and / would take care of
the injured lad. He hesitated, but
finally reached in his coat pocket and
drew forth a bunch of cards. handled
them for a few seconds and then re-
turned them.
There was no name plate on the
auto or any number that 1 could see.
AS 1 was unable to discover the mans
name, I told him to look after the lad
and / would go after a policeman and
turn the boy over to him. This seemed
to meet with his approval and he re-
piled that he would stay there with the
lad until returned. =
IT started down Third street to find
a policeman and had gone half block
without seeing one, when it occurred
to me that the man might go away
and leave the boy without revealing
his identity. 1 hurried back and found
my suspicious were we'll founded. The
auto was gone and the boy was sitting
on the curb crying pitifully His
brother was trying to comfort him.
then took the boys to the receiving hos
pital and reported the matter to the
police,
An examination of the lad made by
the police surgeons revealed number
of bruises and slight decorations on the
body There is one large bruise in the
region of the stomach and there may
be internal injuries.
The injured boy also sustained a
sprained right leg. He begged so pitt
fully to be with his mother that he was
placed in the patrol ambulance and
taken home.
A detective has been detailed to make
Investigations and ascertain the iden-
tity of the heartless automobilist. In
the event of his being located it is
probable that charges will be filed
against him.