Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-25
NO ONE BLAMED
FOR AUTO MISHAP
Jury Which Investigated Death
of Alfred Sutherland Re-
turns Open Verdict.
TAXI DRIVER ExONERATED
Victim Met His Death UnaVoidably
Through Walking in Front of
Davenport Machine.

E. H. Ellinghouse, 1908 Bridge
avenue, Davenport, driver of the taxi
cab which ran down and killed AL
fred Sutherland in this city Satur-
day evening, was completely exoner-
ated from any blame in the matter
by the coroner's jury which gave its
verdict this afternoon after having
heard the testimony of the eye wit
nesses to the accident. The accident
took place about o'clock at which
time Mr.. Sutherland was crossing
from the southeast corner of Fourth
avenue and Nineteenth street TO the
northwest corner. The taxicab which
is the property of the Davenport
TaXicab company. was coming east
on Fourth avenue. In the machine
besides the driver were S. w. and
Charles Pierce of Davenport and c.
S. Estrada, a Florida cigar merchant,
who is staying at the Davenport no.
tel. The party had been to Pros
pect park in Moline and to the Watch
Tower and they were returning from
the latter place when the accident
took place.
Deputy Coroner Fred Entrikin of
Moline conducted the inquest in the
absence of Coroner J. f. Rose. The
jury was convened Saturday even
Ing but after examining a few wit
nesses it adjourned until this morn
ing and the inquest was continued.
How Accident Happened.
DR. E NJ Sala saw the accident from
the window in his Office in the Sala
=; -OIl 70 M
coroners jury this morning, It seems
that the accident was unavoidable.
The doctor said: 81 saw the taxiCab
coming up the street FROM the west at
q rate not to exceed 10 miles an hour. /
Out CT my east window I could see an
Elm street car going south, and l no
ticed that it stopped suddenly I look .
Cd out OF the south window again and ;
saw q man lying just behind the rear
wheels Of the taxi, which had also
stopped. l ran down to the street ut
once and found that the man was still /
breathing, though unconscious. I had /
him carried to my Office, where and /
DR.. a. E. Williams examined him. We
we're unable 10 help him, however, as /
his chest was practically caved in and .
the heart and lungs had probably been
punctured. He died within 10 minutes
after the accident. From what l could .
see, 1 believe that the man became con- /
fused by the presence OF the street .
car and that he stopped directly il .
front OF the taxi. He was crossing the +
street diagonally from the library cor
ner and the taxi was going east on
Fourth avenue, the street car hiding
it from the victims gaze. He stopped
In the street to let the car pass and
then walked directly In front Of the
auto, which could not be stopped or
turned in time to prevent the accident"
Tried TO Save Himself.
Sutherland did his best to save him
self from falling under the wheels of
the heavy taxi. When he found that
being struck was unavoidable. he
reached for the front of the machine
and attempted to hang on until it was
lie caught hold of the radia-
tor, but could not keep his grip, and
went under. The two wheels or the
left side of the machine passed over
BODY. /.
Mr.. Sutherland was g. years old and
had been d resident of this citX only
Two months Or so, dining which time
he had been employed at the Rock Isl
and Mattress factory. He came here
from Port Byron, where he was well
known and respected, and where he
had lived % years. Surviving him is
2 son, John of this city. and brother
and three sisters il other states. The
Mystic Workers OF Port Byron had
charge of his funeral. which was held
there this afternoon at the Methodist
church.