Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-22
Aged South Ottumwa Man
Stumbled in Front of w.
H. Mynard's Car and Had
Life Crushed Out.
EYE-WITNESSES SAY
1T WAS ACCIDENTAL
Automobile Was on Country
Road Near Baum Home
and Armentrout Was
Walking; Inquest Held.

David Arm entrout, an aged either
|of South Ottumwa, was killed by ar
automobile this morning while walking
along the country road some three
miles south OF the city. The car was
being driven by W. H. Mynard, who
with his wife, was taking ride
through the country. The death Of
the aged pedestrian was declared by
eye witnesses of the occurrence to
have been purely accidental. Coroner
A. w. Slaught, who was summoned
Immediately after the accident, ap.
peared on the scene shortly after the
occurrence which took place about 10
o'clock. A coroner's jury composed of
H. Michael, j. 8. Redfern and c. A.
Stroud, empanelled on the scene by
the road side and the body was then
taken to the Sullivan morgue. The
testimony before the coroner and his
jury Is being taken this afternoon in
the office of DR.. Slaught.
The story of the accident as learned
from Coroner Slaught who secured as
much information as was 0btainable
at the time of the viewing of the body,
is to the effect that the car was rum
ming slowly down the hill just beyond
the Daniel Baum farm three miles
south of the city. He stated that two
eye witnesses, Thomas Michael and c.
l.. Prosser who were engaged In
dragging the road at the time Of the
accident, saw the auto with Mr.. and
Mrs. Mynard aboard coming down the
hill. Some distance ahead they stated
that Mr. Armentrout was walking
along the right side of the road in
the same direction as the auto, but to
one side and in the clear Of the car.
Mr.. Mynard was said to have sounded
the horn on the car few times as
a warning Of his approach and when
the car was almost alongside Mr..
it Is declared he suddenly
and apparently became con-
fused, darting in front Of the approach
Ing auto, stumbling and falling imme-
iiately across the path Of the car.
The car was 80 we'll under con-
troll that when it stopped the rear
wheel was on the chest of the victim.
compound fracture of the right leg
was caused by the fore wheel on the
right side Of the car. Death was
nstantane ous.
Mr.. Mynard when interviewed re-
yarding the accident stated that he
Ind Mrs. Mynard were taking ride
nto the country in their car and
while passing the Baum place they
saw an old man some distance ahead
II them down the hill. Although the
nan was in the clear to the right OF
he road Mr.. Mynard sounded the auto
1orn to prevent the man from turn
ng in front of the car. He stated that
when nearly abreast of Mr.. Armen-
;rout the latter turned abruptly and
instead Of going further out of the
way started to cross in front of the
,ar. stumbled on something in the
Dad and fell in the way Of the car.
Mr.. Mynard Immediately brought the
,ar to stop and it did not go a full
ength before stopping. He then re-
NAMED to assist the coroner and
Undertaken in caring for the remains.
David Armentrout had been a resi-
lent of Ottumwa for the past ten years
md formerly resided near Eldon. He
vas past seventy-f1ve years Of age and
vas somwhat hard Of hearing.