The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-11
CHAUFFEUR AND HIS
CHIEF EX0NERATEO
CoRONERs JURY FIND THEY ARE
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FATAL
ACCIDENT.
NO LIMIT TO SPEED
DRIVERS or FIRE APPARATUS
ARE CAUTIONED, HOWEVER,
TO BE AS CAREFUL AS
POSSIBLE.

After hearing evidence from Chief
Wise and Leslie Cornell, chauffeur
and other officials Of the fire depart
ment and from disinterested witnesses
of the accident Friday night. which
resulted in the death of John T..
Fittz, a coroner's Jury yesterday morn
ing held that Second Assistant Chief
o. F. Wise and Chauffeur Cornell were
not legally responsible for the acct
dent. The verdict stated that evidence
showed that all vehicles Of the fire
department are specifically exempt
from State and city traffic laws, UNI
limited as to rate of speed. The YER
dict added that they We're ms careful
as "the stringent circumstances per-
mitted."
Though they were informed that
= they need not testify as they were
under arrest, both Chief Wise and
Chauffeur Cornell waived THE exemp-
ton, and willingly told all they knew
of the accident. They stated that the
car was slowed down 10 twenty or
twenty-five miles an hour when they
saw Fittz crossing the street and Cor
nell said that he attempted 10 avoid
the collision even at the risk OF the
lives of himself and his chief Chief
Wise explained why they took the
route on Broad street instead of COM
ing down on Marshall by stating that
the engine of No. engine house, on
Brook avenue, preceded them. and
they came down Broad street TO avoid
colliding with tho engine and to get
TO the fire first.
Wary as to Speed.
Evidence rs to the rate Of speed
ht which tho machine was proceeding
41A Tire H. mt. 4
that the machine went by him az fast
as any vehicle that ever passed him
In the street. William f. Barrett, Of
sol East Clay street. said that the
automobile was running at very
great rate of speed though he OBJ
served no carelessness on the part Of
the occupants. Both he and the Of
icer said that Fittz was thrown five
feet into the air by the impact. Chief
Wise stated that the man. instead Of
being thrown into the air. was crush
ed against one OF the lamps
L. S Jenes, secretary of the board
of fire commissioners, said that there
was no regulation governing the
speed of apparatus except that the
drivers We're cautioned to be as care
full as possible. Major Werner tes-
tilted that there were no restrictions
on the speed Of the vehicles Of the
fire department
Coroncr's Verdict.
The verdict follows:
That John Z. Fittz came 10 his
death from injuries inflicted on the
18th day OF March by collision with a
Richmond FIRE department automobile
conveying Second Assistant Chief .
#. Wise to "A Are and driven at q great
speed by l.. l. Cornell And though
G. motor vehicle driven at great
speed is exceedingly dangerous To per
sons on the streets the Jurors And that
by an ordinance Of the city the
vehicles OF the fire department are
specifically exempted from the laws
limiting speed Therefore, though
the death of J. E. F!ttz resulted from
the great speed Of the fire depart
nsent vehicle the jurors are If the
opinion that no legal responsibility
for the death has been incurred ty
l.. Il Cornell or @ +. Wise and that
~4ney were as careful as the stringent
circumstances of the case permitted"
The Police court hearing OF Chief
Wise ana Chauffeur Cornell will he
held tomorrow morning