The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-04
Coroner S Jury Says
7 Burwell and Jordan
Were Inprudent.
WITNESSES TELL
OF FATAL RIDE.
Declare Cars Were Not Racing
at Time of Accident, and Vic
tins Might Have Saved
Themselves by Keeping
Their Seats - Deny
Chauffeurs Were Drunk. !.

..
"The Jurors sworn to inquire when.
how and by what mems the said Harry
NJ. Deputy came to his death, upon
their onth do sny that he cnme to his
death on the second day of septcm.
Der, 1910, from the effects OF the IN.
turics received on the second day Of
September, 1910, in collision betyveeu q
an automobile driven by Edmond
Burwell and an automobile In which
the said Harry NJ. Deputy was riding,
and which was driven by George n.
Jordan. And they are of opinion that
the collision was caused by the im-
prudence OF the two drivers.
"(signed) William II. Taylor, NJ. Do
Hamilton White, james Lyle, James
w. Gibbons, j. y. Martin, G. H. Trip.
lett, L. c. FiEg."
Should Captain j. G. Hollingswortn,
who Is now battling with death in the
Johnston-willis Sanatorium, die, IL
will not be necessary to hold another
inquest. the verdict in the one case
answering also for the other, since
both men were together and the cir
cumstances were the same as to both
In the accident which killed the ona
and, perhaps. fatally injured the other.
1t would be necessary, however, to \
hold an autopsy to determine the cx-
act cause of death.
At 2 o'clock this morning the condt.
ton OF Captain Holli.-gsworth was re-
ported as unchanged. His skull ii
| fractured and but little hope Is held
out for his recovery.
| The most important part OF the ver-
| dict, as 1t may bear on future develop
ments and possible complications for
/! those mainly concerned Is the last
| paragraph. which places the blame on
1 Edmond S. Burwell. owner and driver
| of the car which was leading on the
return to Richmond from a race out
toward the Country Club. when the
| accident occurred, and on George III.
| Jordan, chaffeur for the Virginia Auto
Company. who, with his car. was hired
1 for the occasion. Under the law the
| chauffeur is responsible for what hap
pens.
Summoned by Magistrate.
The end of the trouble is not yet
| for as each witness finished testify
ing before the coroner's jury he was
summoned by County Constable Burch
|
| In Henrico county, on September 8, be-
| fore whom they were held on the tech-l
meal charge of being suspected OF tha
| killing of Harry NJ Deputy. Both drtv-l
ers are now out on $500 bail each.I
| Then, too will probably come up the
| question of violating the speed limit.
which every witness admitted was
| done in the race out from Richmond.
| The speed was stated to have been
| thirty-fve, miles an hour.
1t would seem from the verdict that
In the minds of the jArors. the supper.
| at which two quarts OF champagne
| were served had much to do with the;
| desire to race and the fatal accident
4 which followed as the party was res
turning to Richmond.
1t was not proved, however. by the
testimony that any of the party was
intoxicated. and the direct evidence
showed that though both had par
1 taken of the supper and It's con-a
! comitant, neither was under the infiu-
i ence of intoxlcants. At this supper
4 neither j. R. McKissick nor j, w.
ECurrie, of Fayetteville. N. C.. was
present. Both were invited on the
street to take the ride, and neither
seems to have known that the ride
4 had been preceded by some sort OF
l
later through the newspapers
Jordan Mt the supper.
y 1t had been thought that Mr.. Jor-
i dan was not at the supper. but he
admitted having been present and
u having taken "a small portion OF two
j glasses Of wine.' Mr.. Burwell stated
! that he was not intoxicated at the
time Mr.. McFlissick stated that Bur
we'll had evidently been drinking. but
I that he was not SO intoxicated as to
he unable to control the car. The
II who made the arrest. were not
Il called before the coroner's jury
i though they may be called in the pre-
Il liminary hearing In Henrico county
1, to testify as to the condition of the
two drivers when they placed them
under arrest
The main discrepancy was as to the
speed at which the cars We're running
II Just previous to the accident Mckis>
sick stated that he was not familiar
with automobiles and their speed. and
i was therefore, not In a position to
/ swear as to the actual rate at which
the cars were running just before Mr..
I Deputy was killed.
Differ as to Speed. I'D
1 Mr.. Burwell said he was running at
Company, who, with his car, was hired
an hour. In which he was confirmed
by Lacy Ct, Ross and Jordan. ]. w.
Currie set the pace, however. at be-
I tween TWENTY-FIVE and fifty miles an
!! hour, saying that. though ha did not
4 think the running was reckless. 1t was
4 too fast for comfort. s8
4 There was no evidence as to passing
bottle OF champagne around among
i the members OF the party just before
the start. and Mr.. Burwell said he had
taken only one drink during the day
before the supper He took drink
, OF whlskey during the afternoon. jar
dan said he had glass OF beer with
!. his supper. before lie met the party
Mr.. Ross said that Mr.. Deputy took
! some champagne. but was not tntoxt.
Gated,
Another main feature OF the evidence
was the general belief among tho Wit.
Illnesses that 1sag !nGs.aat, solllssonxs, 2aps