The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-17
Witnesses Said Mrs. Eta
Leonard's Car Was Nov
ing Slowly
AS 1T COLLIDED WITH
N. B. YORK'S CYCLE
Secret Inquest into Fatal
Street Accident Had IA
Witnesses

A secret inquest over ''the dead body
OF Norman B. York" ended yesterday in
the complete exoneration of Mrs. Eta
Leonard of South Main street, the wom-
an who drove the Ford automobile that
eollided with York at the junction of
Washington and Church streets Satur-
day afternoon. The inquest was started
in the forenoon before Judge II. w. Scott
in city court. States Attorney j. Ward
Carver had charge of the examination
and some fourteen witnesses were aues-
toned before the inquest ended in the
afternoon.
States Attorney Carver declared after
the hearing that none of the evidence
introduced by the fourteen witnesses
tended to show criminal negligence on
the part of Mrs. Leonard. So far as a
careful investigation would reveal, every
eve witness of the affair was at the
court room yesterday. Among those
who took the stand were several who
We're near the scene of the accident i'm
mediately after the collision occurred.
Of her own accord, Mrs. Leonard took
the stand and told a story which did
not deyiate in the least from that of
other witnesses who had preceded her.
The bulk of the evidence furnished by
persons who saw the automobile and
bicycle as they came together indicated
that Mrs. Leonard was driving at an
extremely low rate. One witness doubt
ed whether she was proceeding faster
than three or four miles an hour, or
at pace greater than a man could
walk, and no one expressed belief that
she was exceeding six miles at any
time. 1t was thought that she used
due care in handling her car.
From the testimony ii was evident
that York came out of Church street
and started directly across Washington
street, while the ear was making away
from him through the drivers veering
the front wheels to her left as the ma
chine was headed eastward York's sud
len decision to change his course was
thought to have been a contributing
'ause of the accident, for as he nesred
he middle of Washington street, he sud
ienly wheeled about. 1t was then that
he two came together.
This version OF the accident was sub
tantated by the location of the bruises
N the mans head and by the marks on
he front OF the car. The blow which
aused Yorks death came on the left
ide of his face, location said to in
icate plainly that he had turned around
nd that his left side was nearer the
machine when it struck him. Then, too.
t was the right headlight on the car
hat was smashed, glass in the right
ide of the windshield was shattered and
ents on the radiator were on the same
ide.
Those who were asked to take the
fitness chair at the inquest were as fol-
,ws: James r. Mackay. who was the
rst to reach York; DIR. o. G. Stickney,
ho was summoned Immediately after
lie accident occurred; Mrs. w H. Snow,
harles H. Ford, a delivery clerk en-
oyed by c. n. Kenyon & Co.. who
as driving up Washington street at
le time; William Mcleod, John Been
Boston, travelling salesman for the
merican Tissue Paper Co., who was
atching the car from the City hotel
azza; Mrs. Ada P. Taft who occupied
e automobile with Mrs. Leonard; f. J.
nddy night clerk employed at the
ty hotel; James 0'Grady, an express
an, who was driving an American Ex-
ess team hear the accident at the
ne of its occurrence; James Booth,
ed F. Turner. Water Superintendent
4. Reynolds, Gus Gregoire, and last
Mrs. Leonard. Several who testified
counted for their presence by the fact
at they happened to be walking along
ashington street when the collision
Dk place.