The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-28
Palmer Leigh's Car Col
lides With Charles
BoWe's Runabout.
BOWIE CAR LATER
WRECKED BY FIRE
Mrs. Bowe Removed to Nearby
Residence and Physician Is
Called, Though Her Injuries
Were Not Serious-War-
rant Served on Leigh
for Fast Driving.

Four persons-w. II. Palmer Leigh
or oo1 West Franklin Street: MIR. and
Mrs Charles G. Bowe. of 1910 Park
i Avenue. and Hiram NJ. Smith of llO5
| west Avenuc-had a miraculous escape
4 from death last might at IL :05 O'clock
"hen seven passenger touring car.
! driven by Mr. Leigh, crashed into the
rear of MIR. Bowes small runabout in
Grace Street, between First and Fou-
shcc Streets
The crash was heard for blocks, ana
/ y a rev minutes a large crowd was OH
\ the scene. Traffic officer Kcrsey and
/ Fatrolman Hurt. who were standing at
| First and Broad Streets, We're among
/ the first TO arrive. but when tney came
/ up, Holt said. Leigh had gone. He was
/ later arrested at his home by Motor
cycle Policeman Samuels on Il warrant
charging him with fast and reckless
driving.
Later Wrecked by Fire.
Nearly an hour after the accident
some one in the crowd, which still re-
mained about the badly-damaged cars.
carelessly tossed a match into gasolene
which was leaking from the Bowe car
and in an instant it was in names An
alarm OF fire was sounded from box
at First and Broad Street, and Engine
Companies Nos. 3 and responded
1 While the blaze was quickly put out
with chemicals, the machine was prac-
! ''16iiS MIttkeu. lnOuEn IL was thought
1 the engine might be saved.
Witnesses including Frank Sutton,
{. Is. Copeland. a. j. Arnctt and A. s.
| Boatwright, told Samuels that Leigh
was driving his machine at a rate Of
/ speed not less than fifty miles an
hour
| Got Warrant for Leigh.
1t was upon this information that
Samuels swore out the warrant for
his arrest Magistrate Purdie was sum
moned to Leighs home, and he was at
once bailed for his appearances to-
\ morrow morning in Police Court He
denied that he fed from the scene of
the accident. but remained there for
some time. and when no one questioned
/ him. walked to his home.
/ Mr.. Smith had come downtown from
his home on an errand and was return
1 ing when Mr.. Leigh picked him up
/ while he was waiting for n street car.
! Mrs Bowe was probably the most
seriously hurt. She complained OF
severe pains in her back. She was
\ removed to the home of Samuel Cohen,
| 10 East Grace Street. and DR.. NJ D.
Hoge. Jr., was summoned. After
I emergency treatment had been rem
/ dered she was removed to her home.
/ Suffering From Shock.
Mr.. Bowe was not inclined to dis
cuss the smash-up. "If there is any
! toihiib " Dc uoHt, ne Sllu, Il tnlnk
| it would best be done by Mr. Leigh"
He said he did not believe Mrs. Bowe
/ was seriously hurt. He thought
/ she was suffering principally from
| shock Mr.. Bowe escaped with minor
| Injuries. though he also complained of
pains in his back Mr.. Leigh escaped
/ with bruised leg
/ Persons who viewed the wreck ed cars
We're amazed when told that no one
had been dangerously injured. The fact
| that all escaped death was regarded as
remarkable.
The front of the heavy touring car
was completely shattered, and th, rear
of the runabout was also badly dam
aged. What was NOT SMASHED by tho
collision, was later ruined by fire and
chemicals. The machines were left
standing In the street. under guard of a
/ policeman.
/ Tried to Drive Aside.
| both cars We're wcstbound Iret
prior TO the accident Mrs. Rove turnnh
her mead II was learned and saw the
swllt approach of the big machine She
cautioned her husband, ana he drove
10 the right of the street and brought
his car to a standstill at the curh Tn
an instant, witnesses said, Leich,s ma.
chine crashed into the rear or the
smaller ear. The steering gear of the
former was ripped away While none
OIL the passengers was thrown out. It
covered from the shock
PERSONS who saw the collision ouicl
~ ran to the aid OF Mrs. Bowe. and
she was at once taken to Mr. Cohen's
residence.
! Mr. Bowe was the only person pres
ent to supply Holt and kersey with de-
tails when they arrived Shortly af
terward Samuels came up Inouiries
by him quickly brought to light facts
In the case. and he lost no time In
swearing out the warrant for Leigh's
arrest. and aftcrward made II report
at the Second Police Station.
| The crowd which was attracted I'M
mediately after the accident was great &
ly Increased when fire apparatus was
called Until long after midnight men.
women and children remained gazing
upon the wreckage. Many automobiles
were stopped, and for n long while both
sides OF the street~for several blocks
were lined with motors, while their
occupants satisfied their curiosity by
looking at the damaged cars
Tells How Ii Happened.
In explaining the accident to re-
porter fer The Times Dispatch last
night, Mr.. Leigh said that he was ariy
saw a wagon which was very near
tho Rove car. In trying to get around
1t he said he saw Mr.. Bowe back
| ing his runahout from tho curb. and
he turned quickly to the LETT to
keep from striking 1t. AS he did so
Mr.. Leigh said that his right front
wheel struck the left hind wheel OF the
| Bowe car and turned II around
! 81 do not know how fast was
driving he said, for 1t was dark. and
could not SEQ the speedometer. but
| l did not consider that tho speed was
excessive. AS soon rs possible Jump
ed out and rushed over to see IL any