Norwich bulletin., 1910-06-10
CRIMINAL cARELEssNEss.
Coroner's Finding in Case of Death of
 Charles Ladda.

Following is the text of the coroners finding in the case of the death of Charles Ladda at Willimantic May 31st. 1910:
 The undersigned, coroner within and for the county of Windham. having received notice from Capt. F.. H. Rich mond, chief of police of the city of Wallimantic about 2.3O o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, May 3Oth, 1910, that one Charles Ladda. a boy of about 12 years of age, had been run over by an automobile and received injuries causing his death, and that his body was then lying in St. Joseph's hospital in said city: I proceeded to view said body, and on the first and third days Of June, 1910, held an inquest in re- gard to the death of said Charles Ladda at the police station in said city Of Willimantic. From the testimony taken at said inquest it appears that a large crowd of people, men, women and chilcren. and among whom was the said Charles Ladda and several other boys about his age, had gathered on both sides of the main street in said city. f.: front of the town building waiting for the Decoration day pro- cession to pass. While said crowd was 8 gathered an open trolley car of the Cornec ticut company, heavily loaded Wtlh "a. sengers, several of whom were standIrS on the running boards on either side of the car, approached from the east, going west. and came to a
 
 walk which crosses Main street to High street. About the same time a large 40-horSe power autom mobile driven by Roland B. Jordan of Willimantic, were riding, approached from the west, going east, and as it was about to pass said trolley car several boys, among whom was the said Charles Ladda, at tempted to run from the sidewalk on the southeriy side of the street past the rear end of the trolley car to the northerly side of the street. As they reached the center of the travelled way on the southerly side of the trolley car three of the boys were struck by said automobile, the said Charles Ladda be- ing thrown in the air, after which it passed over him. His neck was broken, his skull punctured and fractured. and his left thigh fractured from the eff fects of which injuries he soon died.
 Broad, Straight Street.
 The street where the accident oc- cured is a broad, straight street, and the driver of the automobile had a clear, unobstructed view of the sam c, and also of the large crowd of people upon the sidewalks, and the heavily loaded trolley car in the center of the street, for quite distance before he reached them. The statute law of Con necticut provides that mo person shall operate a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state recklessly or at a rate of speed greater than is reason able and proper, having regard to the width, traffic and use of the highway, or so as to endanger the property or the life or limb of any person" It also provides that If the rate of speed of a motor vehicle operated upon the public highways of this state in pass ing any street railway car that fs, sta tionary, or about to stop, on the same side of the car on which passengers are ordinarily received or discharged, exceeds three miles an hour, such rate of speed shall be prima facie evidence that the person operating such motor vehicle is operating the same at a rate of speed greater than Is reasonable and proper, and in violation of section H." above quoted.
 Violating Speed Law.
 As the evidence shows that the au- tomobile in question was running from accident occurred. it was being operat- ed at a greater rate of speed than the legislature of Connecticut says is req Sonable and proper.
 In view of the crowded condition of the street, and of the trolley car, which was already stopped, or about to stop. to receive and discharge passengers, it seems to me that the reasonable and proper operation of the automobile re- Quired it's speed to be reduced to such point that it would be under abso- lute control and could be instantly stopped.
 In Accord With Supreme Court De-
 cision.
 It seems to me that this conclusion is in accord with the very recent de- cision of the supreme court of Con- necticut in the case of the state vs. Campbell.
 I therefore find that the said Charles Ladda died in Willimantic on the 3eth day of May, 1910, from injuries re ceived from being struck by an auto mobile then in control of and being op- erated on a public highway of this state by Roland B. Jordan, and that the death of said Charles Ladda was caused by the criminal careIessness of the said Roland B. Jordan.
 In accordance with the statute have communicated the import of this finding to E.. Frank Bugbee, prosecut- ing attorney of the city of Williman- tic.
 With this finding file the evidence taken at said inquest.
 Dated at Danielson, Conn.,, this Sth day oe June, 1910.
 ARTHUR c. BILL,
 Coroner for Windham County.