New-York tribune., 1909-09-13
KILLED A CHURCHGOER
AUTO RUNS DOWN WOMEN
GOING TO MASS.
Tire Bursts and Broker Loses Con-
trol of Machine as 1t Crashes
Into Them.

Mass about to begin yesterday morning
in st. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Church. at
Broadway and 1S7th street when the worship
pers were startled by cries from the street and
noise that sounded like pistol shot Headed
by Father Lynch. they rushed out of the church.
to find that two elderly women had been run
down by automobile owned and operated by
Charles F. Muller real estate and insurance
broker. living at No. a. West S7th street. who
was on his way to Yonkers with his father and
mother
AS the machine bore down on the women the
tire of a rear wheel burst with a loud report
and the car became unmanageable. Miss Sophie
Duerr. nurse In the Isabella Home for Aged
Persons. at Amsterdam avenue and 1soth street,
received injuries from which she died later in
the Washington Heights Hospital
Her companion. Miss Theresa Appel who OBJ
tanned employment in the institution two days
ago as a cook, received a compound fracture of
the right leg and decorations OF the right arm.
Father Lynch administered the last rites of the
Church TO both women. it being thought at the
time that neither would recover. Muller was
arrested
ON HER WAY TO MASS
During the nine years of her connection with
the Isabella Home Miss Duerr has made a prac-
tice of going TO St. Elizabeth's every Sunday for
O'Clock mass. She is said TO have a sister in
Paterson, n. J.. and another in Ossining. Miss
Appel boarded with Mrs. Hass, at No. POI East
S0th street Yesterday morning she accepted
Miss Duerr's invitation to attend mass with her.
and they walked down Amsterdam avenue and
west in 1s7th street 10 Broadway.
Muller told Magistrate Butts in the Harlem
court that they did not seem to hear the warn
ing toOt OF the automobile horn but stepped
down from the sidewalk directly in front of the
car. When they did the approaching ma
chine they became confused and stood STILL and
before he could apply the emergency brake they
were pitched into the air
The women were run down so quickly that the
shrieks of the two victims and the bursting OF
the tire gave the first intimation that an acct
dent had happened. Muller jumped out OF his
machine and ran 10 the aid Of the women. He
was Joined by Patrolman Malone. of tho West
1920 street station. and DR. Jacobs was sum
moned from the Washington Heights Hospital
MULLER MUCH AFFECTED
The crowd of parshioners was greatly in
creased by residents of the neighborhood and by
automobile parties passing up Broadway. Null
Ter almost collapsed when told he must so 10
court. His father went with him and his mother
sent home In another machine She was
greatly overcome by the shock OF the accident
Magistrate Butts committed Muller without
bail 10 await the result OF the injuries 10 tho two
women. news of the death OF Miss Duerr not
being received until after court had adjourned
Muller trembled and wept continuously while he
was being arraigned,
His father was even more affected when his
son was led away. Both offered 10 give bail in
any amount. but Magistrate Butts told them the
law was plain and he had no alternative except
20 hold the prisoner.