The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-05
RECKLESS DRIVING
KILLS HOlzGREFE,
IS JURY'S VERDICT
Driver of Death-Deal-
ing Auto. Will Be Heard
Thursday in Police Court.
Widows Condition Serious.

Henry j. Holzgrefe came to his
death from injuries inflicted by an
automobile. recklessly driven by John
Henry Morris"
Such was the verdict OF the coroner's
Jury which. early yesterday, heard
eye witnesses or the tragedy by which
the aged retired bushes man met his
death on the 2200 block Of Floyd av-
enue. shortly before 4 O'Clock Friday
afternoon. In consequence of the ver-
dict Morris was again placed under
a $4,000 bond, which was furnished by
his bushes partner, Samuel j..
Rhoades. for his appearance at a pre-
liminary hearing in the Police court
Thursday on the charge Of murdes.
Reports from the bedsides of Mrs
Holzgrefe. wife of the dead man, and
Mrs. Morris, wife OF the man whose
machine is responsible for the fatal
accident. late last night were to the
effect that both were thought to be
slowly improving after the shock and
were expected. to recover. Consider
able fear for the life of Mrs. Holzgrofe,
who is fifty-siX years old, and who has
been in very i'll health for several
years. is still felt. however, and fam
lily physicians are constantly at her
bedside.
Funeral arrangements were COM
pleted yesterday morning upon the ar
rival in Richmond of several of Mr..
Holzgrefe's sons. The obsequies will
be held from st. Mary's Catholic
church at 10 o'clock Monday morning.
1nterment will be in ST. Marys ceme-
terry.
Witnesses Testify.
Evidence educed from the several
eye witnesses who yesterday testifid
before the coroner was TO effect that
Morris was driving his car close to
the right side of the half obstructed
street at rate OF speed described as
right peart,' pretty fast speed" "a
tolerable gait and right smart ;"
Witnesses questioned as TO whether
Morris had been drinking were not
prepared to say that he had been in
dulging.
Morris at first considered taking
the stand in his own defense, but later
changed his mind and did not do SO.
Morris denied emphatically before the
inquest starter that he had been drink
ing and said that he was not running
faster than ten miles when the ac-
cident occurred. He said that touch
ing the accelerator instead OF the
brake during the excitement OCCASION
ed by striking Mr.. Holzgrefe, was re-
sponsible for the excessive speed with
which he collided with the mule and
cart.
Witnesses before the coroner's jury
corroberated the statements which
they had previously made, and were
almost unanimous in the opinion that
the car was being driven too rapidly
for safety with the street In the half
blocked condition. They were. ,rac-
tically to a person. certain that Mr..
Holzgrefe was standing in the gutter
with his back to the on-rushing motor
car when he was struck.
Tragedy Retold.
The account of the accident was
retold in all its tragicaily pathetic de-
tails and many touching episodes,
showing the high esteem in which the
dead man was held by the community
we're brought to light. He had been
overlooking some work being done on
several houses which he owned. and
before which he was killed. and had
just promised Mrs. l.. K. Womble,
221S Floyd avenue, that needed re-
pairs on the house which she rented
from him should be made, when he
stepped on the curbing into the but
ter. Norris was almost on him and
even as the Mortified woman gazed. his
car struck Mr.. Holzegrefe and passed
half over his body. dragging him on
to where the machine crashed into
the mule and cart. The injured man
was dead before medical assistance
could arrive.
Those testifying before the Jury
were: Mrs. l.. r. Womble. 22lS Floyd
avenue; William Christian. colored.
I'LL Chaff1n street; Herman Lang. COLI
nj fxf po