Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-18
DEATH ACCIDENTAL,
CORONER'S VERDICT
Jury Holds Hitting of Mrs.
Margaret c. Collins by Auto
Unavoidable.
LIFE OF WOMAN GONE
ON REACHING HOSPITAL
Seven Witnesses Testify, Giving
Versions of Just How the Ac-
cident Happened.

A verdict of accidental death was re-
turned by coroner's jury today in the
case OF Mrs. Margaret c. Collins, wife OF
C. Fenton Collins, druggist at 1901 New
Jersey avenue northwest. who was almost
instantly killed last night by being
knocked down by an automobile after
having alighted from a street car at 7th
street and Rhode Island avenue north
west shortly before 7:3O o'clock. The
jury was Of the opinion the accident was
unavoidable.
Seven witnesses were examined by
Coroner hewitt
Dr. &C. C. King Of Garfield t, Hospi, Rita
Collins was practically dead when brought
to the hospital, no pulse action being
detected.
formed the autopsy. stated that he found
the body was bruised and thar the skull
was fractured on the left side. Death was
due to hemorrhage of the brain.
Gives Version Of the Accident.
Alfred II. Fink, who was in the auto
when the accident occurred, testified that
when he first saw Mrs. Collins it was
after Mr. Forden had called out and
the car was then upon her and she Went
under it. The proper signals were blown
he said, as the car crossed TIN street.
After striking the women the car went
ten or eleven feet before stopping.
The car was going about eight or ten
miles an hour, he said.
J. L. Farden, a medical student, VINO
was also in the car with Williams ana
Fink, stated that the first he saw or Mrs
Collins she was rushing across the street
and was almost upon the car. He called
out, but as he did SO the car struck her
and she fell. The car did not go over
her.
He Jumped from the car. went to the
woman and assisted in picking her UP
and carried her to the hospital. Mrs.
Collins did not seem to see the auto
mobile as she came from behind crowd
standing on the corner of 7th street and
Rhode Island avenue, he said.
Witness thought the car was going
about ten miles an hour when the woman
was struck.
Saw Mrs. Collins Struck.
John E. Chrisman, 61O L street south
west, passed across the street just
ahead Of the machine and as he step
ped on the curb the accident occurred.
He saw Mrs. Collins dragged about six
feet after being struck. and the car
ran about fifteen feet before King
stopped, he added.
James Mccain 16S Bryan street, saw
says she fell. striking the back of her
head on the paving.
r. B. Harris, colored, 242 NJ street
northwest. said he saw the car strike the
woman and that it only went five or six
feet after she was struck.
In Charge Of Automobile.
Arthur L. Williams, twenty-one years
old, residing at 1912 9th street northwest,
tn, h. ITO
mobile and motorcycle business at 912 9th
street. was operating. the racer when the
accident happened. Seated in the car
with him were Alvin II. Fink. sheep
raiser from Texas, who is visiting at 1i3e
9Th street northwest and Joseph l.. Far
den. 1O17 9th street northwest.
Mrs. Collins left her home, at 627 North
Carolina avenue southeast, last night to
attend a millinery class at the Mckinley
Is stated, and when she left a north
bound car at 7th and streets, she turn
ed south and started running in the direc-
ton of the school building. having In her
hand the frame of q partly trimmed hat
The automobile crossed Tth street from
the west, Williams and his friends de-
claring 1t was going at a speed of not
| more than eight miles an hour, and when
Williams saw Mrs. Collins, he later
stated. he thought there was no danger
Of his car striking her.
1t is thought fracture of the base
of the skull resulted from her head
striking the pavement. Williams
brought his car to a stop as quickly
as possible, and had his companions
lift Mrs. Collins into the vehicle. A
hurried run to Garfield Hospital was
made, Williams thinking prompt treat
ment might save her life. but she died
about the time the hospital was
reached.
Williams Under Arrest.
DIR. c. p. King examined the body
and pronounced life extinct. The body
was placed in the hospital morgue,
where it was today viewed by the jury
of inquest Coroner hewitt reached
the hospital soon after the accident
happened, and found a fracture at the
base OF the skull There was no mutt
lation OF the body and identification
was not difiicult
Mrs. Collins name was in the hat frame
she dropped, and was the means OF iden-
tffying her. Mr.. Collins visited the hos
pital as soon as he learned of the acct
dent
Realizing the police would have to take
action against him, Williams remained
at the hospital until Policeman j. ]. Geier
Of the eighth precinct came and placed
him under arrest, in order to hold him
until Coroner hewitt concluded his in
yestigation. Bond was not accepted last
night. and Williams was detained until
he was taken to the inquest today.
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