The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-12
I'll never DRIVE
A CAR AGAIN
sobs Miss Florence Loftus, Who Ran
Down and Killed "a Little
Los Angeles
Girl.
FAMILY FROM KEoKuK
Father is Frank |. LOTUS, an Old
and Well Known Former
Citizen Of
keokuk.
FAMILY FROM KEoKUK

fatal automobile accident in
which baby's life was ended and
which is creating some feeling at
Los Angeles, Cal, is of interest to
Keokuk people from the fact that one
OF the actors in the painful tragedy
was from a Keokuk family, we'll
known In this city a number of years
|ago. The accident occurred Saturday,
March 1, when an automobile driven
by Miss Frances Lotus, ran down
little Margaret Boetsch, at Los An
geles, killing the child. Miss Lotus
is a society girl, Stanford student and
Ian accomplished musician. She is
the daughter Of Frank L. Lotus, who
was reared, If not born in Keokuk,
educated here and married here His
wife was Miss Modes, sister of w. j.
Modes, once Keokuk lawyer, once
holding the Office Of county superin-
tendent of schools. He also publish
ed an educatiosal journal here Frank
Lotus was the son of the late Roger
| Lotus, an old settler of Keokul1 and
well known in hescity and county dur.
| ing his life.
The story of the accident as told by
the Los Angeles papers is thrilling and
interesting with an intermingling of
lpathos.
The Los Angeles Times OF March
$ prints picture of Miss Lotus with
a companion, Miss Carter, who was
one of the three companions all wonl-
en-, in the car at the time of the ac-
cident. The paper in a note under
the picture says Miss LOTUS, who Is
exonerated from blame, lis confined
| to her bed with grief 9. ssi IS
The Times of the same date says:
| Nerves shattered and living over
! and over again the instant when her
beautiful new car received Ats hap
tism Of blood and the little life OF
Margaret Boetsch went out beneath
its unchristened wheels, Miss Frances
Lotus, the pretty 21-year-old daugh-
ter of Frank L. LOTUS, who drove the
car on its journey of death, Is In a
serious condition at her home, No.
/ 2725 West First street, where her
mother denied her to visitors yester-
day.
"In spite of the fact that Miss Lof-
i tus is said to be an accomplished
chauffeure, and is held blameless by
the police for the unfortunate accident
of Saturday at Twelfth street and Cen
i trail avenue, the girl sobs that she
i will never drive another car, and that
the memory of the baby slipping from
her mothers grasp and falling to her
death in spite of every effort
Ito stop the machine before the
accident and will so testify at the
coroner's inquest, which will be held
at the undertaking rooms of ]. n
Riedemann, No. 1870 South Main
tomorrow morning. 1t Is hoped the
girl herself will be sufficiently recov-
cred to give her version of the case
The funeral will be held tomorrow
Afternoon, with interment in Rosedale
cemetery The arrangements are be
ing made by an uncle of Miss Lotus
Miss Lcftus has recently returned
to her home in this city from Boston
where she studied music. She is rated
as an accomplished performer, and is
we'll known in the younger society Sc,
lin Los Angeles. The machine which
she drove was purchased recently
largely for her use, but before that
she had familiarized herself with the
handling of large and high powered
touring cars, and, her mother sale
yesterday, is as competent to drive
one as man, and more careful thar
most men,
The Times Of the following Wed
nesday morning, March 5, has thit
. story of the result of the coroner's
Inquest over the little child and the
feeling against the careless handling
; of automobiles that the accident ha'
: aroused in Los Angeles:
! Considerable feeling against thu
common practice of permitting com
Iparatively inexperienced women-o
: THE city streets was aroused yesterda.
J by the verdict of coroner's jur.
which blamed Miss Frances Lotus
Stanford student and society girl, TO
the death of little Margaret Boetsch
run down and killed by Miss Lotus
machine last Saturday afternoon. TIL
verdict states that Miss Lotus wa
driving carelessly. Witnesses testified
that she attempted to drive her motto
between a standing truck and NOV
ling street car, a space already partl,
occupied by Mrs. Boetsch and he
, baby. and that, If Miss Lotus sounds
J. her horn, the mother did not hear II
i 1--WE don't want any blood-mone
, h for our baby's life" said Mrs. Arthu
, kBoetsch, Margaret's mother, whe
: seen at her residence, No. 1o11 Eas
, Forty-ninth place, told OF the jury
vardicf and asked IL she world inst