The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-22

son came to her death by being
struck by an automobile, driven
by Lloyd Hallman, and that the
accident was unavoidable. We
further recommend rigid enforce
ment OF the speed ordinances.
This was the extraordinary verdict
returned. Friday evening, by Coroner
Burgess jury in the inquest on the
death of Miss Gibson, killed as she
was crossing the pavement at Spruce
st. and Trumbullave., last Monday
night. The testimony of the eye-wit.
nesses OF the tragedy was that Hall.
man was driving at furious rate of
speed when he ran down Miss Glib
| son.
Hallman said that he swerved his
machine across from the east side
of Trumbull-ave., to the west side, ut
Spruce-st., in order to avoid striking
couple OF women who were start
ing to cross Trumbull-ave from the
east side. In making the swerve. ne
struck Miss Gibson, who had started
to cross the pavement from the west
side.
Lieut.. Lally, who is in charge OF the
detective bureau, while Chief McDon-
nell is absent from the city, said Sat
urday morning that the Hallman case
was now up to the prosecutor for dis
position.
Prosecutor Van Zile. when asked
what action he would take, In view OF
the verdict of the coroner's jury, said
that he didn't know.
Il haven't looked into the matter"
said the prosecutor. 'Mr Aldrich, as
sistant prosecutor, handled the case
and have had no report from him
on 1t. | will be busy today and will
not be able to reach the Hallman case
until Monday. Therefore. cannot
say just now whether he Is to be
prosecuted or not"
Hallman, charged with manslaugh-
ter, Is now out on $4,000 bail His
police court examinat Jon ~ scheduled
TO take place next week.
THE verdict of the coroner's jury
will have no effect on the prosecu-
ton of Hallman." said Assistant Pros
ecutor Aldrich to The Times. Wen
put in our testimony against him In
the police court examination and we'll
go right through with the case up to
the end, unless the police court JUS
tice sees lit to discharge Hallman.
Were you surprised at the YER
dict?" Mr. Aldrich was asked.
well, what was it?" Mr.. Aldrich |
inquired.
Mr.. Aldrich handled the case for
the prosecution at the inquest, but he
didn't know up to 40 a. m, Satur. !
day, what finding the jury had made. I,
The verdict was returned at 4:40 p. |
m, Friday, the jury having deliberat-
ed 30 minutes.
Mr.. Aldrich was informed as to the
nature of the verdict, and he com
mented as follows:
II don't know that you can blame |
the jury very much. the evidence was
so conflicting at times. / think some |
of those women who testified got con-
fused by a statement that somebody |
made right after the accident, that
Hallman was reckless. The women
were doubtless excited at the time. |
Yet am convinced that Hallman was
driving too fast, perhaps 20 or 80
miles an hour. Had he been going |
slower. the accident would not likely |
have happened. | also think those
three women, whom he tried to avoid
by swerving across the street, should |
have looked where they were going
before stepping into the roadway from
Spruce-st. Had they looked to see
whether o rig was approaching, Hall
man would not have had to turn his
machine across the street. Yet those
women did just what most women do
walk right ahead, thinking that
everything will wait for them and
having no sense OF danger.
"Yet their carelessness doesn't ex-
cuse the reckless driving OF Hallman,
and we shall give the case all the at
tention that 1t demands from the pros
ecuting attorneys Office"
According 20 city speed ordinance,
automobiles are not allowed to go |
faster than eight miles an hour with
in the three-quarter-mile circle and
nor more than II miles an hour be-
yond that radius, except on boule- |
Yards and other thoroughfares where
speeding is allowed. The ordinance
provides that fine of 800 or three
months in Jail shall be imposed for a
violation.