The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-09-21
AUTO KILLS A tnlLD
Six Year Old Son of Ira krouCh Nit
by John WesttaIl's Auto and
Died -Four Hours Later.

catur county occurred last ounuaS
t,uo miles northeast Of Leroy, When
the civ wear old son of Mr.. and MIS-:
1ro Krouch was struck on the neao
NV an auto driven by John West1all'
~ 1,erov receiving injuries which re-
s,,,+od in his death four hours after
the accident. 1ou ond
owns q farm northeast OF Leroy anu
has been in the habit OF going out 10
his farm in his auto to look after MS
stock Sunday morning he drove MS
new overland car to the farm as u.s.
nal and was returning home ABOUT
~ o'clock. While at the farm ne
had nicked a couple baskets OF apples
and nlaced them on the rear seat OF
the auto to take home. When near
the Krouch home he noticed couple
of little boys, sons of Mr.. Dick, going
down the road toward the krouch
home. and as he neared the boys ne
reached back and got some apples
and tossed them out to the Dick boys.
On down the road he saw a couple
of the little Krouch boys coming up
the road to meet the DICK ooys' ana
he reached back and got coupe VI
apples and placed them on the iront
seat beside him to throw out to thein.
Just before reaching the boys ne
reached down to get the apples Dut
missed one of them and turned MS
head to see where the apple was, ana
evidently in doing so allowed the
auto to swerve out of the road ana
as he raised his eyes he saw one OF
the little boys fall to the ground from
a blow of the front fender. The
auto was travelling slowly, about
eight miles an hour and he stopped
the car instantly and ran to the boy,
at the same time calling to Mr.:
Krouch that he had run over one OF
his boys. Mr.. Westfall ran to the lad
who was lying unconscious at the size
of the road about three feet from the
south wagon track. He carried him to
the Krouch home a short distance
away. On account of it being Sunday
the phone could not be used so Mr..
Westfall made quick trip in his auto
to Leroy and got DR.. Burbank, and
also started Mr.. Wheeler in an auto
to Humeston for DR.. Smith, who ar
rived about thirty minutes later.
An examination of the injured boy
disclosed that the fender had struck
him sqnare in the left ear, tearing It
almost 81, and there were soma
bruises on his legs. The physicians
took several stitches in his ear and
made him as comfortable as possible.
and it was thought he was not fatally
injured. He regained consciousness
and asked for water several times,
and said he felt alright. About 2
O'Clock he was resting easier and the
family felt greatly encouraged but he
soon lost consciousness and passed
away.
Mr.. Westfall who is one of the
prominent farmers of that section is
over the sad accident,
taking all of the blame on himself,
and he has the sympathy of all. Had
he been speeding his car it would
have been different, but he was a
very careful driver and was running
very slowly and his only though was
to be kind to the boys and give them
some apples.
Mr.. and Mrs. Krouch are the par
ents of a family of nine children,
all living at home except one son.
The blow to them is crushing one
and the sympathy of all is extended
to them. They do not blame Mr..
Westfall, rightly feeling that it was
one of those unlocked for accidents
over which the Supreme Ruler seems
to take charge. The terrible accident
has cast deep gloom over all the
people of that part of the country.