The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-02
Miss Maugans Expires
Early To-day as Re-
suit of Accident at
Frontand w alnut SITS.
THREE OTHERS OF
PARTY INJURED
Coroner Eckinger Starts Inquiry to Fix
Responsibility for Machine and
Trolley Car Coming Togeth ar---Ran-
way Crew to Be QUESTIONED

Miss Grace L. Maugaps, years
old, 80 Forster street, died carly this
morning in the Harrisburg hospital
from injuries she received when an au-
tomooile driven by John }. largest, Jr.,
crashed with a Valley Railways Com
pany trolley car at Front and Walnut
streets at II o'clock last evening.
Three other occupants of the auto were
seriously hurt, but all are expected to
recover.
Miss Maugans was picked up pncon-
scious and hurried to the hospita! in
the police ambulance. She was operated
on Immediately to relieve depressed
fracture at the base of the skull, but
sh' failed to respond to treatment and
her d"2th occurred Of 8 O'Clock. She
also received a compound fracture of
her right arm and numerous bruises of
the head and body.
With Miss Maugans in the tonneau
OF the big touring car were Miss Lillian
Swails, 1410 Green street, and T. Elder
Cleckner, 1112 Green street. All three
were thrown against the trolley car by
the force of the crash. Miss Swails
was rendered unconscious, but recovered
soon afterward and was able to walk
to ward in the hospital faftcfsqreat
ment. She is suffering from badly
1wrenched right hip and sprain of the
back. She suffered a great deal of
pain, but her Injuries are not dangerous.
Cieckner suffered a sprain of the back
and an injury to his left knee. An X
ray examination was made at the hos.
pital late this afternoon to determine
If the knee was fractured.
Samuel Weber, $50 Sylvan Terrace,
who, with largest, was riding in the
front seat of the machine, did not 90
Immediately to the hospital following
the accident, but when he began suffer
ing severe pains in his right side he
hurried to that institution. On exami-
nation of him there it was found that
four ribs on his right side we're injured.
An &-ray examination was made this
afternoon to determine if any were
broken. largest, who is proprietor of
the Rex garage, was the only other oc-
cupant of the auto and escaped injury.
q
Coroner Starts Inquiry
Coroner Eckinger started an investi-
CATION of the accident as soon as the
death of Miss Maugans was reported to
him this morning The diagnosis of
death from fractured skull, as given
out by the hospital physicians, was ac-
cepted by the Coroner, who Immediate
iy released the body to the girls moth
er. Coroner Eckinger will hold an in
quest as soon as the other injured per-
sons are out of the hospital. The troll
ley crew and some of the passengers
who witnessed the accident will be
summoned as witnesses. There have
been no arrests.
Miss llaugans resided with her
mother, Mrs. Cora l.. Maugans 310
Forster sfeet, who is the only close
relative tolsurvive the girl Mrs. Mau-
gans was \ in bed at the time of her
daughter 8 death and the news was
great shoeAto her. Her condition was
said at her Pme to be slightly improved
this mornint
The autoPelonged to NJ H. Gettvs.
l1lS North Eecond street, and largest
had permissih to hire it out, ACCORDING
to the lattd's statement made last
night following the accident. He had
hired it to Wber, he said.
Hargests Story of Crash
The party vas returning from a spin
up the river rod, according to largest,
and when the uto approached Walnut
street he saw sveral trolley cars com.
ing across the 'eople IS bridge toward
the city, but thught at first he could
get across Waint street ahead of the
trolley car. He said that an instant
later he realized he couldn t make it
and applied the rakes, but the street
was so icy thatit was impossible to
stop the auto.
The front of th automobile ran onto
the track and thefront of the trolley
crashed against it. The rear of the an.
tomobile was brouht sharply around.
striking the trolley and the occupants
of the rear seat E the auto were
thrown against theslde of the trolley
car.
Miss Maugans us riding on the
right side of the alto, which hit the
trolley car with themost force. The
front part of the automobile was
wedged under the frnt of the trolley
car so firmly that jats had to be en-
ployed to release il
Miss Maugans and Iiss Swails were
employed at Cunninghm g restaurant
at Walnut and Court ltreets, where
great many Capitol I'll officials and
attaches take meals Cleckner is
graduate of the lchnical High
School and is employdas travelling
representative by Arrisburg shoe
manufacturing firm. Wer is a promi-
nent athlete and is hmber of the
bowling and baseball teas of the Elks.