Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-06-26
BOY MEETS
TRAGIC DEATH
Alvar Heikkila Struck by an
Auto Driven by M. E.
Bloom
DRIVER IS EXONERATED
Coroner's Jury Frees Autoist
From Responsibility For
Sad Incident
DRIVER IS EXONERATED

Run over by an auto while enjoy
ing bicycle ride with his friends
his skull crushed and his body bruised
so that he died within half an hour
was the cruel fate that befell Alval
Heikkila. a boy twelve years old, las
Friday afternoon. Young Heikkila witt
his friends, Phillip Radinsky Ed Helix
kila and Louis Hill, had been riding or
their bicycles out on the edge of the
city toward Hoquam. Riding down JEFF
ferries street they turned on Simpson
avenue, and met an auto driven by NJ
r. Bloom, of Elma. Three of the boys
turned to the left, and Bloom, turn
ing aside to avoid them, crashed in.
to the fourth boy who turned to the
right to cross in front of the car. The
coroner's jury which spent Saturday
in Investigating the case, brought in
verdict generating Mr.. Bloom.
| Whether autosist or boy were at faulr
or whether the tragedy was one of
| the strange mysteries of Fate, the
event is none the less deplorable both
for the parties concerned and for the
entire community.
Alvar Heikila was the twelve year
old son of Mr.. and Mrs. John Helix
kila, 712h West Wishkah street. His
father is an employe of the American
mill. Besides his father and mother
the boy leaves one older brother and
one sister, younger than himself. The
funeral will take place Wednesday af-
ternoon at the Whiteside parlors.
coroner's Investigation
Immediately following the boys
death the coroner was notified. and
on Saturday Jury was impaneled
and the case investigated thoroughly.
The jurymen consisted of F. K. Drake,
foreman, Ernie Phelps, w. NJ. Mel
rose. S. A. Girard, w. G. Powell and
c. F. Mallus. The investigation was
directed by Coroner R. F.. Hunter and
Prosecuting Attorney Campbell, assist
ed by his deputy, A.. E. Cross. The
inquest was held at the Whiteside
Undertaking parlors where the body
lay, and following the presentment of
the case, and the inspection of the
body, the witnesses in the case were
heard. The three boys who We're with
the victim, Mr.. Bloom and his party,
Mrs. Rippian and daughter, and Frank
Engle of Aberdeen and two boys who
saw the accident, testified.
The facts in the case as disclosed
by the testimony showed that the
four boys were coming down Jeffres
street, while Bloom was approaching
from Aberdeen, along Simpson ave-
nue.. At the intersection of the streets
the boys started to make the wide
turn of the corner, but noticing the
car, they turned to the left to escape
1t. Bloom turned accordingly in the
opposite direction. Alvar Heikkila,
however, did not turn in the same
way as his companions, but crossed
to the right, in front of the machine.
Bloom put on his brakes and veered
his car as much as possible, but it
was too late. The car did not stop
till it had struck the lad, passed over
his body and gone partially off the
roadway. The body was picked up at
once, put into the car, and driven
to the Hoquiam General hospital.
Bloom returned at once to Aberdeen
and getting the boys father hurried
him to the hospital, but the boy was
dead before they arrived
The testimony as to the speed of
the car was somewhat conflicting.
The lads who witnessed the accident
testified that the car was going very
fast. and the fact that it could not
be stopped for some distance after
striking the boy was also adduced as
evidence to the same effect. Others,
however, testified that the speed of
the car was not excessive.
After the taking of testimony, the
jury adjourned to the scene of the &C.
cident They looked over the ground
carefully. and by means of another
car tried to determine the probable
speed of the car the day before. Re-
turning they made out the verdict
that Bloom was not guilty under the
circumstances. 1t is stated, however,
that Prosecuting Attorney Campbell
is looking into the case further.
Mr.. Bloom was much unnerved by
the tragedy. Friday evening he drove
from the hospital to the police sta
ton and told his story to Chief of
Police Templeman. He has been con-
nected with the White Star Lumber
company, but was planning to take