New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-02
THREE die WHEN
TRAIN HITS AUTO
Machine Racing Cars-Dr.
G. M. West, Mother and
Cousin Victims.

A New York & New Jersey Rail
road train, travelling at high speed,
yesterday morning struck an automo-
bile containing four persons at a
crossing in Gainesville, near Haver-
straw, killing three of the occupants
outright and seriously injuring the
fourth.
The dead are:
WEST, Mrs. James Garner, seventy
two years old, of Gainesville.
WEST, Dr. Gerald NJ, fifty-two years
old, dentist. Of 10 West S5th ST.,
this city, son of Mrs. West.
JOHNSON, Miss Geraldine, twenty
five years old Of Washington, a
nice Of Mrs. West.
The injured man is DR.. William J..
West, thirty-fve years old, brother
Of Dr. Gerald.
The force of the collision hurled the
automobile fifty feet and threw the
bodies of DR.. West and Miss Johnson
nearly as far. Mrs. Vests body was
found on the pilot of the engine.
The scene of the accident is known
as Alice's Crossing, on the road be-
tween Gainesville and Haverstraw.
The road runs parallel TO the tracks for
several hundred feet and the crossing
is unprotected Witnesses stated that
DR.. Gerald West, who was driving, had
been racing the train and was en-
deavoring 70 beat it 70 the crossing.
The Garner and West families are
well known in Haverstraw and the
news Of the tragedy spread rapidly:
Mrs. West, who was the widow of
James r. West, Of Garnersville, was
the sister pf Thomas Garner, founder
of the print works Of Garner d co.
Friends gathered Almost Immediately
at the scene Of the accident, and Dr..
William West. who had been thrown a
great distance, was taken 70 the home
of John A. Flor, of Gainesville. For
a time his life hung in the balance, but
last night he rallied and was removed
TO his mothers home in Garnersville.
He is suffering from deep scalp
wound and severe contuslons.
The other victims Of the accident
we're killed outright. Joseph Frohlis,
at the throttle Of the locomotive, said
he had seen the car speeding beside
the track for some distance, but sup
posed that the driver would slow up
at the crossing. lie tried, he SAID, TO
bring the train to a stop. when he OBJ
served that West intended 20 try TO
take the crossing ahead Of him.
An inouest will be held to-day. The
bodies we're removed 10 the Haver-
straw morgue. The only witnesses, so
far as is known, are Frohlis, his fre-
man and Mrs. James A. Robinson, a
passenger.
While Mrs. William Casey. Of %
Hcrriot ST., Yonkers, was in 81. Mary s
Cemetery yesterday afternoon decorat-
ing the grave of her husband, her only
son, James, eighteen, was KILLED by an
automobile. The youth, who worked
in the repair shops Of the lonkers
Railroad Company, got of Rlyerdale
av. trolley and walked around the emo
Of the car as an automobile owned ana
driven by Victor II. Cromwell, sales
man, OF 80 Fairfield Road, sped along:
II hit Casey and dragged him several
feet, breaking his neck. lie dled
few minutes later IN 81. Joseph HOS
pital.
Mr.. Cromwell. who was accompanied
bv his brother. Charles cromwell, ana
three women Of their family, gave nm
self up. Coroner Dunn directed his
arrest on a charge Of manslauyhter
and paroled him in custody OF Police
CAPTAIN George Cooley. Cromwell wa:
unnerved by the accident, and one Of
the women in the car tainted.
Jamestown. \. Y, Nov. Mrs.
william Johnson. aged ffty-three. was
struck and killed by an automobll e
driven by Frank Lillibridge, Of this
citv. while on the way to church with
her husband at Levant, five miles east
of here, this evening.