The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-07
RUN OVER BY AUTOMOBILE !
WOMAN DIES At HOSPITAL
Bridget Ellen Breton, 60
Dies in Few Minutes At
ter Accident at Fifth
and Main Streets.
INQUEST HELD TODAY

INQUEST HELD TO-DAY
Testimony Of Witnesses at In
quest Show Automobile
Was Not Being Rap
idly Driven.
The coroner's jury at $500 o'clock
this afternoon, returned verdict that
Bridget Ellen ererton came TO her
death by being struck by an automo
bile driven by 6. w. MoseIey.
Bridget Ellen Brerton, 60, was
struck by an automobile driven by G.
w. Moseley at the corner of Fifth and
Main streets shortly before 1880 last
night and died few minutes later al
the Graham hospital, to which she WAS
removed in Mr.. Moseley's car immed
lately after the accident. The cal
ran over her body and rolled her fol
a distance OF about twenty feet before
1t could be stopped, although Mr.
Moseley had been driving at slow
rate of speed before the accident
happened.
The coroner's jury met this morn
iEg and again this afternoon and heard
the testimony of witnesses. At 500
o'clock witnesses were still giving
testimony In the case.
To Avoid Another.
According to the testimony taken
at the coroner's inquest this morning
and Mr.. Moseley's description of how
the accident occurred, he ran over
Miss Brerton because he attempted
to avoid striking a man who was
about to cross the street from the
southeast corner, and did not see
Miss Brerton. He had been driving
slowly near the curb. Just as he
reached the crossing man, believed
to have been Charles G. Smith, step
ped OF the sidewalk and started to
cross the street in front OF the auto
mobile. Mr.. Moselay saw him and
states that he sounded his warning
signal. The man finally stopped and
stepped back toward the curbing. but
before he did so the driver Of the
automobile had swerved out toward
the car tracks to avoid striking him.
His attention conferred upon miss.
ing this man, Mr.. Moseley lid not see
Miss BRETON standing near the cor
ner about eight feet from the car
track. He stated today that he stop
ped his car after striking her because
he heard someone cry--out for him to
stop. He said that he could remem-
Der seeing something like shadow
in front OF hts car Just before he
heard the cry to stop and believes
this must have been Miss Brerton.
He stopped his car within dis
lance OF from twenty to twenty-five
feet According to the testimony OF
witnesses, Miss Brerton, just before
the automobile reached her, half turn
ed facing the car, and then started
walking backwards to Keep from being
run down. Either she tripped on her
skirts and fell or was struck by the
car and fell to the pavement The
automobile rolled her for distance Of
about twenty feet, according to the
testimony Of several witnesses, al
though one stated that he did not
think the car struck her at all.
Died At TAI O'Clock.
Whether or not the wheels Of the
automobile ran over her body was de-
MED by one witness and affirmed by
another who stated that to him 1t
appeared as II the right front wheel
Of the car ran over her head. When
the automobile stopped Howard
Evans, 20, 201 North First street. who
had been standing on the corner In
front Of Younker's, ran into the street
and pulled the woman from under
meath the automobile. He then lifted
her into the rear of the machine and
supported her while Mr.. Moseley
drove to the Graham hospital. Evans
carried her to q room on the second
floor. DR.. F. B. Dorsey and DR.. F. B.
Dorsey. Jr., arrived within few min
utes. They gave their time of arrival
as 7:35. Miss Brerton died at 7:4l,
according to the testimony OF the two
physicians given at the coroner's IN
quest this morning.
Evidently, before the accident oc-
CURED, Miss Breton had stopped on
the corner at Fifth and Main street to
wait for a car while the car still was
over a block away. She probably had
not noticed the approaching auto'no-
bile until it was within short dis
lance OF her. When the automobile
swerved out from the curb 1t headed
directly toward her. Either she be-
came confused or she did not have
tine to step TO one side to allow 1t
to pass her FOR she started running
backwards away from the car winch
CHI