Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-09


three feet from the north side of the
street. Witness was positive he had
heard the horn blown. He heard 1t
twice plainly She was walking as
she crossed. bus stopped. and then
started ahead IF she stood still she
would not have been hit She stopped
on the rail toward the north side of
the road and the motorcycle turned to
the right toward curb after the rider
had blown his horn. The woman was
three or four feet from the curb after
she was hit
Other Testimony.
Edward Sypher, Is a doffer in the
card room of the Windham Manufac-
turing company, living at 3S1 Pleas
ant street. had left the up-street store
at 6.45. meaning the ole company store
and walked right down to the scene
of the accident. Saw the motorcycle
about so feet from the woman. The
woman came on and then she went
back and stopped. She had big cape
over her head and carried a pail She
started forward again. stepping in
front of the motorcycle that struck her
sideways. She was lying diagonaIIy
across the street Witness said that
he heard the horn blown when he was
about fifty feet away. The street was
clear at the time.
John Tracy. aged IS. driver for
Louis n. Aver. the icernan. testified to
having seen her under the influence of
liquor more than once He thought
that the front wheel of the motorcycle
struck her. He said that she was ly-
ing lengthwise with her head toward
Walnut street.
Hughes Statement.
The coroner had Hughes brought in.
After warning him that whatever he
might say would be used against him
if he should be brought before court,
he asked If he wanted to say any
thing. Hughes replied that he desired
to tell his story. He was sworn and
said that his name was Rufus A.
Hughes and that he was % years old
on the second of last April. He said
that he roomed at 762 Main street and
that he drove a laundry team and had
done SO for the past three years, al
most, except for three or four months
when he was in Providence the past
winter. Was down home Saturday
night and left there between $40 and
$40, and came up Main street as /
was going to Chesbro's garage. / saw
the woman and blew my horn. She
stopped and as I approached nearer
she stepped out and as 1 was about
three feet from her | leaned over, and
turned to the right to avoid her, en-
deavoring to retain my balance and
my left shoulder struck her, she hav-
ing gone ahead I was thrown to the
ground but got up as quickly as
the first one to take hold of her. Be
ing questioned as to the distance when
he had blown his horn Hughes replied
that he was % feet away and that he
pressed twice, as was his custom. The
woman was two thirds of the way
across when she stopped and was
about four feet from the curb when l
struck her. He said that he had oper-
ated q motorcycle about two years and
that this was the first time that he had
figured in an accident. He said that
he was licensed operator and that
Captain Richmond had seen his papers.
Said that the woman had one of those
long capeS over her head and a pail
in her hand. She had left the south
curb and was in the street when he
first saw her He said he could not
say whether she was walking steadily
or not. He said that he had previously
footed for a. boy who was quite a dis
lance ahead of him when he was about
opposite where Walnut street enters
Main.
A Lesson to Other Operators.
Coroner Bill then said: L am sat
isffed that the accident occurred more
through the fault of the woman than
through your own negligence, at least
all the testimony bears out that view.
Ii she had stood still after the horn
was blown she would not have been
struck. However, caution you as to
your driving in the future. and 1 hope
it may be a lesson to all other opera
tors of motorcycles and automobiles
to exercise great care. especially when
driving through a city like Whitman
tic He then said, Il must order
you discharged"
Held for Reckless Driving
Hughes, however. was held on the
charge of reckless driving of a motor
cycle on which he was first arrested
Saturday evening, and will be ar
raigned in court this (Tcesday) morn
ing.
Received Word of John lifts Death.
]. B. Baldwin received word Monday
morning of the death of John L. Tiff
a former member of Company e, 21st
regiment, G. ", death occurring Sun
dav morning at his home in Proyi-