Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-19
JOSEPH SHORTELL RUN
OVER BY STREET CAR
One Leg Cut or and tho Other Badly
Mashed and Is AM
putated.
HIS CONDITION is SERIOUS
Motorman on First Street Line Is
Placed Under :Arrest-Car Crowd
cd With SuburbaniteS Returning
to Their Homes.

Joseph Shortell, about thirty years
old. living mt Ala West Marshall Street.
was run over by a Lakeside car on
First street. between Marshall and
Clay Streets. about $40 O'Clock ycster-
day afternoon. One of his legs was cut
off and the other was so badly mashed
that surgeons at Grace Hospital found
1t necessary to alnputate it just above
tho ankle. II was said last night that
Shortcll had suffered considerably from
shock. but that no stood some chance
for recovery. y. S. Perkins. motorman
or the car was arrested by Policemen
Reid. kcrsey and j. II. Harris. and was
hailed for his appearance in the Police
Court.
Shortell is said to have been crossing
the street and going in the direction Of
Clay Street when struck The car was
crowded with suburbanites returning
to their homes after the close OF bust
ness. According to the statements Of
the car crew and several persons who
witnessed the accident. the heavy steel
car was brought to n stop within thirty
feet after Shortell had been hit When
bystanders reached the man. he was
found crumpled up beneath the rear
trucks and held fast.
SHORTELI'S LEG wEDGED
UNDER HEAVY CAR
a hurry call was sent for the ambu-
lance, and Surgeon Pitkowitz was on
the scene in few minutes Roy Ford
chauffeur Of the ambulance succeeded
III freeing the stump OF the leg which
had been severed. but found II impossi-
bio TO release the other from tho side
of the car. He crawled under the car
and worked at tho limb for some time
without being able to free the leg.
Tho ankle had been caught in the hrak q
and mashed tightly against the wheel
inspectors OF the company had ar
rived on the scene while Ford was
lhhoring beneath the car, and had
telephoned for a relief wagon The
wagon reached the spot few minutes
later. and jacks were applied to force
the brake shoe OFF the mans ankle.
After this was done II was found pos
sible 10 draw him from beneath the
car. Ambulance Surgeon Pitkowitz Sc
cured the ends of the arteries which
had been cut and then ordered that
Shortell be taken to Grace Hospita,
with all possible speed.
CONDITION IS REGARDED
AS VERY SERIOUSI
He was placed on the operating table
short time after he reached the hos
pital. 1t was said early last night that
ne had not recovered consciousness, and
that II was impossible to state definitely
whether he would survive. Early this
morning. however. 1t was said that he
had rallied slightly. and was conscious
at times. His recovery was still con-
sdered doubtful
Traffic officer Kersey, on duty nj
First and Broad Streets. was the first
oiicer To reach the scene Policemen
Reid and Harris arrived n few minutes
later and these officers assumed charge
OF tho situation. AS soon as Shorteu
mad been released and started for
the hospital, they arrested Motorman
icrkiNs and took him to the Second
station. where he was later bailcd. He
was charged with unlawfully and
negliEently intiicting bodily injury on
Shortell
witnesses summoned by the police
are: r. Rutherford, 4O5 West CLAY
Street; Fl. D. Ward. library building;
James Holtzback. 1929 Summit Avenue.
policeman l.. NJ Reid; William Brown
'2l North Ninth Street; Clarence Chris
tan. 2ll East Franklin Street. and
Charles White Second and Duval