New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-05
CHAUFFEUR RISKS LIFE
IN VAIN TO SAVE GIRL
Helen Otte, Eight Years Old,
Badly Hurt by Taxicab at a
Crowded Crossing.
CAR A WRECK ON SIDEWALK
Parents Hear Story of Probably
Fatal Affair in Hospital
Refuse to Make
Complaint.

Little Helen Otte, eight years old, was
apparently fatally injured at Broadway
and Goth street about o'clock last night
by taxicab, in spite of a bold attempt
of the chauffeur, Frederick Klein, of No
157 West Goth street. to save her life.
Seeing that the girl in her confusion
was unab BILE to get out of his way, Klein
took a desperate chance, and ran his
machine up on the sidewalk opposite
the Hotel Marie Antoinette. 1t crashed
into stout iron fence surrounding the
hotel and was completely wrecked, but
the sacrifice did not avail to save the
little girl, who was struck by the front
wheels of the car and dashed to the
sidewalk with terrific force.
It was said at the Roosevelt Hospital
that her right leg was fractured and
that she received severe cuts and con-
tusions of the scalp. 1t was added that
her recovery was doubtful.
Helen and her sister Ida, thirteen
years old, were crossing Broadway, on
the way to their home, at No. 30 Column
bus avenue. just as the taxicab came
through Goth street. The maze of
vehicles confused the children, causing
them to halt, and then Helen started
toward the west side of the street. while
her sister tried to pull her in the OPP
posite direction.
Klein was throwing his steering wheel
back and forth in his efforts to dodge
the children, and when he saw that
Helen was retreating to the sidewalk he
determined to risk his own life in the
effort to save hers. But the child mys-
teriously continued in the same direc-
ton as the car, do what he would. and
at last she was knocked down.
When the car struck the fence it
turned over on its side. Klein was
thrown out, and received not a few
bruises. but he Immediately ran back to
help Helen. who lay motiOniess on the
sidewalk. and picked her up in his arms.
He put her in another taXiCab and took
her to the hospital. Bicycle Patrolman
DonnelIy, of the West 6Sth street sta
| ton, came upon the scene just as they
were about to start and got into the
taxicab. together with Ida Otte, who
was uninjured
DOnnetly arrested Klein as soon as the
child was turned over to the care of the
hospital. charging him with felonious
assault. and the chauffeur was locked up
| in the West 6Sth street station.
| John and Elizabeth Otte, the injured
girls parents. were Informed of their
daughters accident, and hurried to- the
hospital. They insisted upon full ac-
count of the accident, and then refused
to make a complaint against Klein
whom none Of the witnesses of the af-
| fair blamed.
Two other children, an eight-year-old
bow and a six-year- old girl, were run
! down by automobiles last night in other
parts of the city. The boy was so badly
! injured that little hope was held for his
recovery. He is William Conroy, of No
! III Perry street. He was Injured al
Greenwich and West 18th streets by ar
! auto truck owned by the American Ex-
rress Company. and was taken to ST
Vincents Hospital.
The girl was Dorothy Eggerking. She
was playing in front of her home. No
1870 West SD street, when she was
knocked down by a touring car. The
chauffeur put on speed and ran away
| The little girl was attended by DR. We'll
of J. Hood Wright Hospital, and re-
manned at home.