The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-24
CHAUFFEUR HARD IS ARRESTED FOR
 MANSLAUGHTER
Rigid Investigation Begun Into Death of Little Elsie
 Back, Killed By Auto
CHILD WAS DOING HER CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Auto on Left Side to Pass Trolley Gar When Girl
 Steps In Its Path

Andrew s. Hard, chauffeur for Mrs Belle Ten Eyck, was arrested for
 nanslaughter today as a result of his running down and fatally fuiurfug Elsie Back, 13, daughter of Carl C. Back of 79 Fifth street at Fairfield avenue and Broad street late yester- day Hard, who lives at 26 Bucking- ham street, was released in bail of
 $3,OOO furnished by Mrs. Ten Eyck. who instructed her counsel, Judge A. B. Beers, to take up the chauReur's defence. Among the most important witnesses thus far interview by tho authorities is Mrs. Elmer s. Beardg1ev of 472 State street, organist in the South church, who was the sole par senger in the car.
 The fatality which occurred at the corner of Fairfield avenue and Broad street yesterday afternoon at about O clock resulted as near as can be as- certained today from a trolley car stopping in front of the Methodist church to allow passengers to a1ights This car was traveIing westward Likewise the automobile of Adrs. Ten Eyck, driven by Hard and bearing Mrs. BeardsIey, was traveI5ur vzeet- ward and in the desire of the driver to pass, the car turned to the left. As 1t came abreast of the nOtionIess trolley car the child who was intent upon crossing the street to attend to Christmas shopping for a family who desired most elaborate tree stepped in front of the car, her head prob ably down to avoid the driving rain. Apparently not expected traffic except from the right she was in front Of the automobile before she observed it's approach She was struck by the front of the car thrown violently to the pavement and the car passed par tiaIly over her body before it's driver could bring it to a standstiIf.
 Horror-striclSen, both Hard and Mrs. Beardsley jumped from the car to find the girl unconscious near the rear wheel. Sheawas taken to the sidewalk, by pedestrians and later In- to the Jarnfeson drug store where Drs ,LaField and Hair, who were in the vicinity administered stfnulauts. Con veyed to St. Vincents hospital she never recovered consciousness and died within a short time after arrival. fracture of the skull, both legs had been broken and her ribs crushed in as the car passed over them.
 The police ordered both Hard and Mrs. Beardsley to continue to police headquarters where their statements of the affair were taken Hard said. that he was preceding west on Fair field avenue when at Broad street he turned to the left of the trolley car. at about eight miles an hour. The. girl stepped directly in front of his machine. He did everything in his power to prevent the accident Mrs- Beardsley corroborated the statement. Of the chauffeur adding that she had known him as a most careful driver. He was permitted to return to his home.
 ? In the City court this morning Judge Coughlin Inquired why Hard had not been arraigned and later iu-. vestigated the police end of the case Prosecuting Attorney De-. Laney was called into consultation with Judge Coughlin and the police, the arrest and release, of Hard result ed. He was charged with n1ans1augh- ter, pending the investigation to be made by Coroner John J. Phe1an, up,-I on his return from Stamford today.
 With the long list of the killings during the past year resulting from m motor-vehic1e traffic in the city streets, and the great danger from autom obiIes passing to the left of standing trolley cars the result of this investigation is looked forward to with the greatest interest in both police and automobile circles.
 Whether it is intended that an au- -omobile shall stop behind a trolley. car or pass to the left will be an essen ,iaI feature of the examination Neither the state law, or the city Ordf- 1ances seem to make this point clear, md opinion varies greatly today.
 The state law reads: eff the rate of ,peed of a motor-vehic1e operated up- ,n the public highways of this state Il passing any street railway car that s stationary or about to stop, on the lame side of the car on which pas iengers are ordinarily received and exceeds three miles an lours such rate of speed shall bo ,rima facia evidence go ." etc.
 City ordinances in effect state: "A -ehicle, except when passing a vehicle lhead, shall keep to the right" etc.
 "A vehicle meeting another shall pass to the right"
 "A vehicle overtaking another shall pass to the left side of the overtakeu vehicle and shall not pull over to the fight until entirely clear of it," etc
 An ordinance of 1911 reads: 'To -ehicle shall pass any standing rail- way car upon the same side as pas engers are being received or dis ] harged so as to interfere in any way with such passengers"