Evening journal., 1913-12-31
TURNING CAR
BREAKS NECK
OF ITS OWNER
Thomas TOmkey, Business
Man, instantly Killed and
Mrs. TOmkey Badly Injured
WIFE DOESN'T KNOW
OF DEATH OF HUSBAND

his head. as his skull was fractured
near the base Of the BRAIN and his
neck broken
The accident occurred about half
mile south OF the State Hospital. at
Farnhurst on the Farnhurst road.
Mrs. Iomkey. wife of the deceased.
was seriously injured In the same ac-
cident, and James Walker. a young
man OF Middlctown. who also was .a
the machine. escaped with nothing
more serious than a slight cut over
one eye
The accident was witnessed by
United States Senator Willard Sauls-
bury and his secretary. Chauncny T..
Hoicomh who we're riding In Senator
SauloDurys machine near the Tom
keys machine They Immediately
FASTENED TO the State Hospital and
brought Dr. r. n Davies. assistant
superintendent az the hospital. TO the
scene IN their automobile and assist
ed him IN what rescue work was
necessary. The Tomkcy automobile
was smashed TO q pile OF Junk and
thrown up along the side OF the
road
Mrs, Iomkey was carried To the
State Hospital where II was roportcd
this morning that while her condition
iN serious. It Is not critical. and she
VIII recover unless complications set
IN. She recovered consciousness last
night and asked constantly for her
husband, but the physicians feared 10
ten her that he had been killed as
they thought the shock might result
fatally 20 hor.
She has not learned yet Of the death
Of her husband.
Mf aud Mrs. Iomkey had been max
ing some purchases in Wilmington Ear
their store in Middletown. and IA thew
started 20 return in their touring car
they picked up the Walker bov. who
works about the garages in Middictoan.
and gave him ride home in their ma
eune. They had arrived In this city
early lh the afternoon and started home
about o'clock Persons who saw them
going south ON the State road state that
the machine was travelling at fun speed
With iomkey at the steering wheel. Tho
machine passed the automobile n which
Senator Salisbury and Mr.. Holcomh
verc riding, at high speed, causing them
TO comment upon IT,
The Iomkey machine dashed at high
speed across the bridge that spans the
'f|'"'NN'N' INNNNWu rNIlN OF INInNUraI.
and about half n mile further down ap.
proaelicd a team owned and driven hv
iQlln ~. prentise. Of State Road. who
WIS driving Ia the middle of the high
rnv. Hearing llit 'appNlarhing nutomo.
bite. Mr.. Prcntiss started 10 turn aside
foiene more room TO the fomkcy car
Mr' lonikcf apparently did not reduce
speed TO any considerable extent. as he
approached the prcntiss wagon. just
MS he reached the wagon be turned to
the side of the rVad, intending TO drive
past but as his automobile started
along tho slight incline at the side of
the highway the front wheel struck some
loose. sand and the wheels failed To hold.
The ncNt instant the machine shot into
the air like living thing turned COM
plcte soncrsalilt and came down, land
lnr upfield ON It's four wheels
The occupants OF the Gear were
thrown out when the car left the
ground. Walker was hurled about
twenty feet away and was partially
stunned. In short time. however,
hc rcgained consciousness and was
soon able to walk around.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tomkev were not so
fortunate. Both were thrown clear OF
the automobile as ii turned in the
air and Tomkey fell upon his head.
racturing his skull at the base OF
HE brain and breaking his neck.
Death was instantaneous Mrs Tom
key fell IN the roadway several feet
from the machine and was rendered
unconscious.
Senator Salisbury and Major Hol-
comb were on the spot few sec
ends after IL occurred They saw
that the occupants were in need OF
medical care. so they had their auto
mobile turned around and they made
all speed back to the state hospital
They told what had occurred and took
TT. Davies into their machine and
rushed him down the road TO where
the man and woman were lying.
Dr. Davies soon satisfied himself
that Mr.. Tomkey was beyond helm.
Mrs. Tomkey however. was uncon-
scous. but still living and was re-
moved to the State Hospital Walker
slight cut over one eve. Dr.
Davies dressed this injury. and the
youth was able to continue to Mid
dleton. taking the late afternoon
train from Farnhurst station down
the Delaware road
Mr.. Tomkey's body was broueht to
the morgue in this city and will be
sent to Middletown tomorrow.
MIR. and Mrs. Tomkey lived I'm Mid
dletown about two years and were
widely known and liked by all the
residents Of that town. They origin
ally came from Baltimore. They
have no children Mr. Tomkev con-
Quoted an ice cream. candy and sods
water store in the town. His tragic
death caused a sensation when It be.
anne known in Middletown last
niqht
Walker reached his home last nigh
little thc worse for his unpleasant
experience. but badly frightened HI
could remember nothing of the acci
dent from the time they started e
turn out to avoid the farmers wagoI
until he picked himself up in tn,
roadway
While originally from Baltimore i
has been about ten years since Mr.. Tom
kay left that city. lie first went I,
Dover, Del. where he conducted con
fectionery store for about two or thre
years. after which he purchased farm
near Marydcl, living there for Ave or ST
wears. From there he went to Middle
town, where he hes since resided. He i
Ct Greek nationality. and while on hi
VISIT 70 this citr Yesterday he visited
number Of local Greeks Mrs. Tomke
is also from Baltimore.
The quickest and most efficient wa
togo house or fat hunting is 10 watc
<k~ NUo~t Al. tLo~s~o f..u - o~~