The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-17
JURY
NOT UNANIMOUS
MAJORITY. HOWEVER, CHARGE
carxrrAL NEGLIGENCE IN DEATH
OF Mn. w1LLINGHAM.
lMR. LYNcY DlSAGREES
THINKS CAR NOT EXCEEDING
SPEED LrMIr-CoUNTY AU-
THoRITTEs NOW MAKING
AN INVESTIGATION.

Criminal prosecution by the Ken
rico county authorities OF Thomas >.
Walker. local manager Of the Ameri-
can Tobacco company. and Leo beA'
hi. chauffeur, on the charge OF Grim
inal negligence in connection with the
death Of A. B. willingham a. the re-
suit Of the auto accident TUESDAY
sv.ninr near the Country club. Ii
probability.
No action will be taken. however.
while Mr.: walker. who still. y .uncon-
secious at st. Luke's hospital 10 ~
rnch n precarious condition. nor ,untal
the condition or the bruised ana
lacerated Chauffeur shows consideraoie
Improvement.
when seen at his ofices at 1907 Bank
street last night. while nonco =
in his replies to question relating 70
probable criminal prosecution. deciar-
ed that his own opinion was tnat tne
accident was the direct result OF ex-
cessiye speed on the turn OF the road.
He said he had heard the testimony
taken at the coroner's inquest yea
terday. and that he was struck oy tne
cyasiye replies given by several wit.
ne.ses when the speed OF the car ~
the tlfle Oh ilS ONSA seA As1ANSs -
discussion.
County Onlcers u. Work.
.From what have learned from
the investigations OF the county OPP
GERS and from the testimony OF the
xritnesxes at the coroner's inquest II
IL INV opinion that the accident wa
due 10 excessive speed, SAID Attor-
new sutton. '.As to the prosecution OF
MT walker and the chauffeur. ! nave
.S.d~ and II Am NOV
readv to say at this time what action
I viii take You may say, however,
that no action will be taken wnite
Mr.. Walker remains In his present
precarious condition.
when asked IL the owner and
driver OF the car could be prosecuteo
for anything more serious than we
lation OF the speed laws. he said. As
suredly. II the prosecution Is unoef-
tsten nv the county 1t will be on .
charge OF criminal negligence. In this
case + do not think any attempt
would be made to make the degree
greater than involuntary mansiaugn-
..whatever Is done in the matter
will be At the instance OF the county
authorities. The city authorities have
no jurisdiction, ~ the accident oc-
Cured outside the municipal limits
County ofIicers are making m inves-
tirntion. independent Of that con-
Quoted ~ the coroner's fury. and their
findings will be reported to me. Un.
der no circumstances. however, VIII
any action be taken until the condi-
ton Of both patients 10 greatly i'm
proved"
The Jury's Verdict
The verdict Of the coroner's jury
Was as follows:
mo. s73s,
"City OF Richmond. to-wft:
.An inauisition at 1912 East Broad
street in said city on the 14th day. OF
May, 1913, before me, DIR. William
n. Taylor, coroner. upon the view OF
the body OF Andrew b. WllinEham
there lying dead:
.sThe Jurors sworn to inquire when,
how ana by what means the said An
drew b. wlllingham came to his
death, upon their oath do say thai
he came to his death on the 18th day
of May, 1919, from injuries received
on the 18th day Of May. 1918. b.
the overturning Of m automobile be.
longing to Thomas ]. Walker and
driven by Lee Fell, ana they are Of
opinion that the overturning was due
to the unlawful and reckless speed n
which the automobile waa driven By
Lee Bell. and which wAs allowed b
(Continued On Third PAgs.)