New-York tribune., 1910-07-27
THROWN INTO GLASS
WINDSHIELD OF AUTO
Mrs. Julia w. M. Curtiss Pain
fully Hurt in Smash in
Front of St. Regis.
DRIVING GEAR WENT WRONG
Victim Member Of Watt Family,
Whose Son Once Had Her
Declared Incompetent to
Manage Property.

A taxicab containing Mrs. Julia Nor
ris Watt Curtiss. a member of the well
known Watt family. which formerly
owned the greater part of Harlem, and
her physician. DR.. c Alfred Lawrence,
of No 6T5 Madison avenue was going
up Fifth avenue yesterday afternoon.
When 1t was opposite the St. Regis
Hotel a brace supporting the driving
gear Of the machine suddenly became
loosened and scraped along the asphalt
pavement. The jar loosened the shaft
attached to the front axle and it
dropped down in such a position that
the iron rod ploughed up the asphalt
and left the machine running on three
wheels
The car was going fairly fast and the
loosened shaft, acting as a jack. raised
the rear Of the machine about three feet
in the air, throwing Mrs. Curtiss and
DR.. Lawrence heavily against the wind
shield. Mrs. Curtiss struck the glass
with her forehead, which was badly cut
over her right eye. The physician was
lucher. striking on his chest.
The machine had by this time been
stopped by the chauffeur. who retained
his seat. The wrecked car remained
poised in the air for several seconds,
while q crowd on the sidewalks and
those in passing automobiles stopped to
witness the peculiar accident.
Machine Finally CoIlapses-
While DR.. Lawrence was trying to ex-
TrfP 70 Mrc
the weight Of the machine finally broke
down the iron shaft, and the car lurched
forward heavily and crashed to the
street. This again threw Mrs. Curtiss
and the physician with stunning force
against the front of the car, and DR.
Lawrence, in trying to save Mrs. Cur
tiss from injury by throwing his arm
! around her waist, was pinned agains
| the drivers seat and hurt about tn,
| chest and shoulders.
The porch of the ST. Regis was full
| and when its occupants saw the acci
| dent, with q glimpse of Mrs. Curtiss
whose white gown was covered with
/ blood from the wound on her head. they
ran TO the street and lent their aid
AS soon as he had freed himself ant
Mrs. Curtiss from the taxicab DR. Law
renee said he would take Mrs Curtiss
to her hotel. the Savoy While he wa:
looking for another car or a cab ar
automobile drew up and the owne1
| offered to take the injured woman to Ilel
! hotel
Mrs. Curtiss Painfully Hurt
Mrs. Curtiss was put to bed as soon 81
found that besides the deep wound OF
her head. she had been badly cut abou
the body. She was hysterical anC
showed symptoms Of internal injuries
and DR.. Lawrence decided TO call IN DR.
Graeme NJ. Hammond for a consultation
DIR. Lawrence said the fault die not Ii
| with the chauffeur, and would not max
a. complaint against him. The acciden
| blocked traffic for ten minutes on Fiftl
avenue
Several years ago Mrs. Curtiss figured
in the courts of this and other states il
a controversy over the will of Miss Mar.
C. Pinkney, who left Mrs. Curtiss thirC
share in about S1O,GOO,0O0 Louis H
Morris. Mrs. Curtiss's son by her frs
marriage, alleged that his mother wa
inca pa Bile of managing her own affairs
and asked that a commission be ap
pointed TO administer her estate Afte
wears of legal wrangling Mrs. Curtis
was adiudged competent to direct he
own affairs.