The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-07
Dies After Party Left
Him at Home and
Then Raced Away.
CORONER TRYING
TO SECURE NAMES
Passengers in Car Claimed That
Somebody Else Hit Britain,
but This Statement Is Re-
garded as Untrue-Took
Cold-Blooded Departure
Quickly.


Autoists who have as yet not seen
At TO reveal their identity, but VINO
NAV be apprehended to-day or TO.
,,orrow caused the death OF s. B.
Britain. an inmate OF Lee Camp Sol
diers Home. The aged veteran was
struck by an automobile Tuesday
night. rceiying wounds which re-
suited in his death early yesterday
morning.
Mr.. Britain was left on the veranua
OF the hospital of the home by party
of men In an automobile. VINO seatea
| TO the right wachman tha he nad
| been injured by some other car. and
/ that. seeing his gray uniform. they
/ had brought him to the home Tor
treatment. While assistance was
] being sought, the party slipped away
| leaving no names.
1 II is understood, however. that the
number OF the car was seen, ana that
| arrests are likely to follow. 1t Is
/ regarded as significant that no one
In the party made inquiry as to the
condition of the man whom they
claimed TO have aided.
Looks Suspicious.
4 The situation has an ugly look TO
/ many persons familiar with the facts.
1 They argue that while the injury may
i have been the result of an accident. 1t
4 would seem that II this were true
there would be some evidence OF what
was the cause. The excuse given by
the party which took Mr.. Britain to
, the home. and the fact that no member
of 1t took further interest in his case,
are taken to indicate that probably
criminal care1essness caused the old
, mans death, and that the automobilists
desired to avoid recognition and prose-
cutlon.
Coroner w. II. Taylor. who was
summoned to the case early yesterday
I morning, made an investigation which
q resulted in the productipn of impor-
Y tant facts. 1t seems that Mr.. Britain,
who held an honorable record as a
s soldier OF the Confederacy, and who
: had been in the Soldiers Home for
: more than a year, went out to the
: State Fair on Tuesday evening as the
guest of friends Some time before
!, midnight he left his friends to return
{ to the home.
? Left Hurriedly. =
:, Shortly before 12 o'clock an autce
II mobile dashed into the grounds OF the
n
. hospital The inmates. with the as.
e sistance of the night watchman. lifted
a Mr.. Britain TO the porch. where he
j. Law unconscious. The autoists TOLD
h the orderly that the veteran had beer
) injured by another car, and that. find
ing him and noting his uniform, the,
e. had brought him to the place fol
# treatment The party then left, while
x the watchman was seeking assistance
d Mr. Britain was given prompt treat
sr ment, the city ambulance. in charge o.
y DR.. Harshbarger being summoned. !
: was found that the injured man!
$ right thigh was fractured, his jawbon,
= fractured, and there was wound a
!. the base of the skull which indicated
concussion of the brain.
- Made Statement.
"a He lay unconscious through tn,
. night, but recovered sufficiently OF
As Wednesday morning to make brie
!. statement, which Is now in possession
vi OF Coroner Taylor. He said merel!
IS thatshe was returning to the home OF
"a foot and alone, and while near the In
tersect!on Of the Boulevard and Broat
Y Street he was struck by an auto
!. mobile.
"a Mr.. Britain asserted that he was no
"a in the middle of the road. but to on
c
- out of the usual track when 1t strucl
20 him down. He was unable to furnis
/. any clue to the midnight JOY rider
:. who had given him his fatal injurie:
:. Neither the party which brought hlr
% to the home nor the possibly mythica
y "other car occupants had taken tn
- slightest interest In his condition.
: The coroner says frankly that tn
H. story looks dubious to him, as toll
- by the driver OF the auto which too
- Mr.. Britain to the hospital. and tina
~ he thinks. this car caused the man
y DEATH Whether or not he is correc
es will possibly be known within a fe,
go hours.
1e DR.. Taylor has not yet decided as t
ee the details of the inquest, but will con
u tnue the investigation. There may b
ut some witnesses to-day.
MS Mr.. Britain was seventy years oil
ns He was native of Henrico county an
ag lived in Richmond for many years be
IS, fore going to the home The recor6
he show that he was enrolled there o
he July 9, 1903; that he was widowe
x and that his former occupation wa
that of skilled machinist. He is su,
ze vived by one daughter. Mrs, Ferguso,
j. of sos Orleans Street.
- During the War Between the Statt
od Mr., Britain served as member /
~, Crenshaws Battery OF Virginia Fie1
Artillery.
- The funeral services We're held ye
al terday afternoon at o'clock at ii
Soldiers Home chapel. and the bun
was In the soldiers section at Holl,
- wood.
CAN'T PI ACE ri anne