The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-08
MRS. GERNERT DIES AFTER MONTHS OF
 UNCONSClOUSNESS
Newtown Automobile Trag-
 edy Claims Third Victim Specialists Work Futile

Mrs Frank C. Gernert, who was terribly injured about aler head and spine i'm the autoInotiie accident at Newtown the night Of October ', when Mir Geraaert and Mrs Robert c. See ley lost their lives, died at 12:15 o'clock tlnds afternoon at her home 134 Noun tain Grove street. The eald, almost daily expected since the accident, came as she lay unconscious. For several days she had barely bdeathed and anxious watchers knew that there was no hope of recovery. Save for two or three mo1nentariIy lucid periods she has lain unconscious and helpless since the time 'dl1ef she was picked up u1a- derneath the wrecked automobile and rushed to Danbury hospital At no time did she realize her surroundings, condition or that Mir. Gernert was dead. All that stzrgican and medical ecDence could do was done to bring about at least pertial recovery. Dam bury, Bridgeport and New York spec 1ailfstS operated several times in e. vadn attempt to relieve the pressure on brain and spine. All were unavatling, even bo the extent of restoring con Boinusness. Several times there was hennTpraay in1provernent aeading to the faAse hope among relatives that Sl1e
 might recover, although surgeons aeld out no hope Had she recovered, they say, there is hardly a. chance but what she would nave been hopeless in valid for life. Two trained nurses l were in constant attendance
 Mrs Gernert was born in Tennessee l 39 years ago yesterday and passed her earlier years there. Her maiden name was Katherine Lavender. Later she came to New York; where she lived with her brother, John c. Lavender,
 of that city. AS a member of an old
 southern family and possessed of great beauty and personal attractions,
 she was widely known in the metrop-
 o1is- It was there that MT. Gernert I met her. They were married about six years ago.
 l Mrs Gernert was well known in l Bridgeport and highly esteemed for her charitable nature and winning 1 ways. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church, interested in the ! work of the various departments and | a regular attendant. She is survived by her brother, John of New York, and sister, Mrs Eaton of Me1rose Highlands, Mass, who have been with her almost con stantly since the accident and who were at her bedside when she died. l A step-son, Harold. son of MT. Gern- ert by a former marriage. also sur l wives.
 l The accident in which Mrs Gernerrt l received her fatal injury occurred on l th9 night or w edneSday, OctODerss I, | when a large Packard touring car
 driven. by Robert C. seeley. upset this
 side of Newtown. Mir. and Mrs. Rob ert c. Seeley were seated in front with 11r. and Mrs. Gernertt in the rear. Ac- l cording to Seeley, the only actual eye l witness to the tragedy to testify be
 fore Coroner John J. Phetan at the l inquest, he was obliged to turn out for 8 car ahead which hogged Bhe road.
 Frank Gerner.t was killed instantly AIds. See1ey later died in the Danb1ry hospital, and Mrs. Gernert was in kthat institution for weeks ihoverdns between life and death before she could be removed to her home in this city Both her skull and back were fractured and though trephining was resorted to by noted specialists, hel chances for recovery from the first 1 were but slight The coroner's find ing eo1honorated See1ey from any blame dn haae case.