Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
George N. Murphey Killed In
Crash Near "Dead Mans
Curve" as He Takes Party Of
Friends for Ride in Machine.
MOtorman and Agent of Trolley
Company Blame Driver Of Mo-
tor, Charging That He Was
Running at Dangerous Speed.

George NJ. Murphey, a shoemaker
OF S47 Marietta Street, was killed
outright and his three companions
were seriously injured late Saturday
night when the automobile in which
they rode crashed into a Buckhead
trolley car on the Peachtree Road
Just after rounding Dead Mans
Curve" which earned it's name by
the toll of life it has taken in the last
few years. The automobile was
smashed.
Murphey's companions were A. w.
wofford, brickmason of 1879 Hamp-
ton Street; L. J. Hearn, 4 Lees Ave-
nue., and John Christopher, 10 Curran
Street. The three injured men were
taken to the Atlanta Hospital.
MOtorman 5lames Autoist.
George S. Jones, the motorman Of
the street car, said last night that
the automobile ran into his car. A
further statement was made by L. F.
VIM, claim agent of the Georgia
Railway and Power Company, based
upon information which he had re-
ceived. and not upon a personal IN
vestigation. Mr.. VIM said that the
street car had practically stopped
when the automobile came around the
curve. Dead Mems Curve" and ran
into 1t.
The automobile, light Ford, was
arA ranah-
anism on the left side we're torn
away, and the automobile was cast to
one side OF the road. Murphey was
hurled to his death. A broken collar
bone sustained by Christopher is the
most serious injury that came to any
Of the other three.
The spot at which the accident oc-
Cured is very dark. The street car was
headed toward the city. and the auto
mobile was going in the opposite d.
rection when the crash occurred.
Physician First on Scene.
DR.. o. F. Elder was one of the first
at the scene. besides the street-car
crew. Murphey, he said later, was
dying when he arrived.
81 was driving out Peachtree Road
rather late, taking a spin with my
wife" he related. Turning the
curve beyond Brookwood. noticed
in the gloom, some distance away. a
h1ddled group. Everything was dark
the bulk Of a street car and the
automobiles mass. When I neared
the scene. I could see by the Hight Of
my own lamps the bodies Of the men
lying on the ground and a stream Of
blood which ran from their forms to
the side Of the road.
IAN examination showed that Muir
phey was dying. and that one of the
others was seriously hurt and prae-
ticaIly unconscious. I placed the two
in the back OF my car. and made the
fainting man hold his dying compan-
ion in his arms until We reached
North Avenue and Peachtree Street,
where my tire exploded and where
I turned the two injured men over 70
the ambulance. Murphey was dead
then. His skull was fractured"
The body Of Murphey was taken to
G-eenberg & Bonds undertaking es-
tablishment woford was taken to
the Atlanta Hospital. Hearn and
CHRISTOPHER were taken TO the Grady
Hospital. but later they were moved
to the Atlanta.
The street car was not damaged nor
its crew injured. No arrests had been /
made late last night Of members OF
the street car crew. which was COM
posed of Charles Gunter, conductor,
and George s. Jones, motorman.
The affair comes under the 1uris- /
diction OF the county police. who. ac- I
cording 10 Assistant Chief Madison, F.
will conduct an investigation.
Claim Agent Tells of Crash.
Later in the night. following an
Investigation. Claim Agent VIM, Of
the street railway company, gave out
the following statement
The incoming car had reached a I
point beyond the curve on PeaChtree 7
Road he said, and was on a
straight track The motOrman saw +
the automobile approaching at a /
high rate Of speed and he. together /.
with a passenger on the front plat /
form. shouted at the driver 70 look 4
out. But the warning was Of no avail /
The left side Of the automobile struck .
the street car.
There were ten or fifteen passen- I
gers on the car. none Of whom were .
hurt by the shock"