The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-05-06
ROBERT WHITFIELD KILLED

cident occurred at the short curve of
the Silver Springs road, just before
the cemetery corner is reached in
| which Mr.. Robert Whitfield lost his
life
DIR. Harry Walters, accompanied
by his brother, Mr. Holmes Walters,
was coming in from Silver Springs
in the doctors automobile about
6:15 o'clock. They saw two bicycles
approaching; one passed, and DR..
Walters saw the other webbing in
an uncertain way. He was going
quite slowly and slowed down even
| more for the sharp curve, and turn
ed out the road as far as he could,
but even this was not enough
As the auto and bicycle came near
together, the wheel wobbled, and its
rider, thrown to one side, was struck
by the car and knocked on his back
in the road. DR.. Walters stopped
the car in a few feet. He and his
brother picked up the young man,
and DR.. Walters gave him every at
tention, despite the shock to his own
sciousness.
The young man was Mr. Robert
Whitfield, 81 years of age and he
was riding a wheel for the second
= r;@I
John Whitfield, he was going to his
parents home, three miles out on the
Silver Springs road, each of them
riding a bicycle. He had been advis-
ed against riding out at night when
he was so little used to a wheel, but
thought he could manage. The curve
and sight of an approaching car
seemed to brighten him and he lost
control of the wheel entirely.
The young man struck the ground
violently, falling on his head. His
skull wac fractured and a severe
hemorrhage set in. The body was
not bruised to any extent in any
other place.
Mr.. John Whitfield exonerated Dr.
Walters from all blame and gave the
above as the substance of his &C
count of the accident. No one re-
grets the accident more than DR..
Walters and he feels it deeply, but at
the same time feels that he was not
to blame and that it was entirely I'M
avoidable. Mr.. C. v. Roberts, an
uncle OF the young man, says he
looked into the matter very carefully
and is of the same opinion.
The body of young Whitfield was
brought to the city and placed in
McIver & MacKay's undertaking
rooms where it was prepared for
burial. This morning a coroner's
jury was empaneled by Justice of
the Peace Ferguson and the remains
were viewed and the circumstances
attending the young mans death
were carefully gone into. The jury
composed of Messrs. James Johnson,
Whitfield Palmer, T. c. Luckie, w.
S. Perry, George Johns and A. NJ.
Lansford, rendered verdict that
Robert Whitfield came to his death
in the manner stated above, and that
they fully and absolutely exonerated
DR.. Walters from all blame in the
matter.
The funeral of the young man
took place at o'clock this afternoon
from the residence of his aunt, Mrs.
C. ". Roberts at No. 703 South Pond
street. Rev. Bunyan Stephens, pas
tor of the Baptist church, assisted
by Rev. Roy Bowers of the Christian
church, officiating, and the remains
were laid to rest in Greenwood GEM
etery annex by Messrs. McIver &
MacKay. The pail bearers were,
Messrs. Frank Gates, Walter Marsh,
Mel Ferguson, S. b. Hawk, Harry
Cole and E. A. Mobley.
Sweet music was rendered at the
funeral services and many lovely
flowers were brought to the residence
and grave by sorrowing friends. The
coHtHl unity was greatly SHocheu Dy
the death of Robert Whitfield. He
was a most estimable young man,
honorable and Industrious and all
who knew him speak of him in the
most kindly terms. He leaves a
father and mother, Mr.. and Mrs. c.
H. Whitfield, two sisters, Misses Sal
lie and Mary, four brothers, John,