Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-06-12
CLARENCE KILMER MEETS
DEATH BY FALLING FROM
~ AN AUTOMOBILE

- 0A1%
wood In an automobile for Cape May,
accompanied by John Coleman and
John McCann. Coleman is q ma
chinist employed at the Blue Ribbon
Garage conducted by E. S. Kilmer,
a brother of Clarence, and their errand
at Cape May is said to have been to
get an auto license for Coleman. The
same afternoon about $3.50 O'Clock Kill
mer was carried into DIR. Kelchner's
emergency hospital injured SO badly
about the face and head that be died
early the next morning, without re-
gaining consciousness enough to tell
how he was injured. There seemed to
be such an air Of mystery about the
affair that the case was turned over to
Coroner n. A. Cohen.
The accident happened on the way
back from Cape May on the public
road, according to the story told by
both Coleman and McCann, who said
that Kilmer fell from the auto while
the machine was going at a good pace.
They picked him up and drove back to
Cape May to the office of DR.. Walter
Phillips, who after a hasty examination,
saw that 1t was a case that should be
treated at a hospital, and told the two
men 80.
As the doctor said 1t would not do
to take Kilmer back In the two seated
auto, they hired Hebenthal's auto bus
for that purpose, and themselves came
back in their own automobile and
went to their homes.
Chief of Police Lester Smith learned
of the accident shortly after the in
jured mar arrived at the hospital, and
arrested the two men to await the
action of the coroner. The inquest
was held at the city hall on Monday
morning, Coroner Cohen having sum-
moned the following jury to hear the
case: H. q. Schlichting, foreman; H.C.
Chalmers, tanning Myers, j. E.
Whitesell, H. F. Greaves and HI. H.
Hoffman. Prosecutor Jefferson was
present. The jury was sworn by the
coroner and then went to view the
body. Returning to the city hall DR..
Kelchner was. the first witness called
and described the Injuries. he said
he found no road dirt or grass on the
face Or in the hair and believed that
the injuries could not have been caused
by falling from the machine. Chief OF
Police Smith testified that Coleman
was about rs years old and that he
resided on Burk avenue, said that
Coleman handed him Kilmer's pocket
book containing pawn tickets and two
dollars separately. When he called at
McCann's home on Schellenger avenue
the latter handed him $34. The next
witness was DR.. Phillips, who said
that he examined Kilmer's head hast
lily and found gravel, road dirt and
grass in his mouth, or his face and In
his hair, said he believed the injuries
could have been caused by falling
from a moving automobile; said be did
not smell liquor on Kilmer. The Jury
then adjourned to view the scene Of
the accident. After returning from
the trip to the spot where the accident
occurred the jury rendered a verdict to
the effect that Kilmer met his death
in an unknown manner, but advised
that the two men be held to appear
before the grand jury.
A short time after this verdict q man
from Cape May came to Wildwood
and cleared up the mystery by stating
that he and his wife saw Kilmer fall
from the auto. This man proved to he
Bernard Courlander, a Cape May cot
tager, said to be a son-in-law of the
late General 6ewell. He said that be
and his wife were in their machine
and met the auto containing Kilmer
and his two companions and saw a
man fall from the machine, but did
not stop, as he believed 1t tobe a Joy
ride. The jury took his testimony and
freed Coleman and McCann from be-
ing responsible for Kilmer's death and
they were released. Mccain, however,
is under 5000 bail, charged with lar
ceny of the $84.
The Mccain referred to above is not
the John ]. McCann. the former bar
tender at the Ruric, but is the one
known as P~ittsburg Kid, the pool
player, who has or did have a ring
game on the Wildwood boardwalk.
KILMER's FUNERAL
Clarence A. Kilmer vas about 30
years of age and resided in Holly
Beach most of his life. He was born
In Vineland where his mother now
resides. AS a boy he attended the
Holly Beach public school. He was a
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