The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-11-16
EX0NERATE DRIVER AND
T. OWNER OF AUTOMOBILE
Inquest Held Before Judge Scott on
Death of Florence L. Milne Clears
the Partridges of any
Blame.

AT private inquest conducted before
Judge IL. w. Scott in city court yester.
day afternoon TO determine the exact
manner in which Florence l.. Milne, the
'year-old daughter of Mrs. Nellie
Milne of Washington street, met death
in an automobile accident near her home
last Monday, testimony offered by some
twelve witnesses tended to show that
the ear which figured in the affair was
driven at a moderate rate OF speed when
the child ran into the street. Witnesses
also supplied information which has
caused the authorities to completely ex-
onerate the driver as well as the owner
OF the machine from any blame. States
Attorney j. Ward Carver conducted the
investigation and il was at his behest
that number of eye witnesses whom
he examined were subpoenaed.
A significant incident in the inquest
was the appearance OF Harvey b. Par
fridge of East Barre, owner of the au
tomobile and his son, j. Arthur Par
fridge, the driver, both of whom asked
permission to give their version OF the
accident. The elder Partridge and the
boy We're not ordered to appear in court
and they took the stand on their own
initiative. The story told by the Part
ridges was corroborated in its most es-
sential details by the testimony offered
by nearly every other witness. Mr..
Partridge stated that his ear was bowl
ing easily along Washington street when
he saw the girl in the road He sup
posed she had ample time to reach the
other side and believed she must have
heard his horn several times. just as
she apeared to be safely across the path
OF the approaching car, she appeared to
jump back and almost at the same mo-
ment the right headlight struck her and
the machine passed over the body. He
Was able to stop the car before ii had
gone its own length.
The younger Partridge stated that he
was at the wheel. His story agreed with
that of his father and the other wit
lesses. One man who testified later told
If coming onto Washington street from
huntington avenue just moment before |
he accident. occurred. He stated that
he Partridge car appeared to be coast
ny down the hill without using any |
1ower. Others verified this story and |
lot single line OF evidence tended to |
how that the machine was speeding or
hat the driver was IN any measure neg
igent. There were Others. too, who tes-
ified to seeing the Partridge car de-
eend the Washington street hill before
Turing the present automobile season. /
Never had the driver seemed to be ex
eding the speed laws, they said.
1t was while Mr.. Partridge was on the
tand that an explanation came as to
fhy the car was travelling the left side
t the road at the time OF the accident
ir. Partridge told of seeing the street
ar halt near the West Patterson street L
erminus as he neared the base OF Wat /
hill At the north side OF the
ar, which was at the drivers right,
hree men were standing between the
idewalk and the car. The driver turn 4
4 to the left of the track for that
aason. As he passed the car he noticed
group Of children in the street and also /,
t the drivers right. 1t was his purpose
} continue on the left Of the track until i,
Q had passed the children. 1t was be-
ore he had time to veer his car back to L,
he right that the Milne girl came run
ing across the road. II