Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-12-03
Truck Driver Arrested For Motor
Killing At Drummond.
From the Washington Times of Sunday.

William o. Soper, a huckster of Clarks'
burg, Md, was arrested this morning
charged with having caused the death Of
H. A. Latimer at Drummond last Wednes-
day evening.
According to Sheriff E. Payton Whalen,
of Montgomery county. and Lieutenant
Giles of the Tenleytown police station,
who made the arrest, Soper admitted he
was the man who operated the automobile
truck which crushed out Mr.. Latimer's life
on the Rockville pike.
"Soper was taken to the Rockville jail
after his alleged confession, and held with
out bond. Immediately after his arrival
he communicated with Attorney John A.
Garrett. of Rockville, and engaged him as
counsel
Attorney Garrett talked with Soper at
the jail and stated afterward that his
client admitted running down Mr.. Lati-
mer. but would plead that the accident
was unavoidable because of semi-darkness
and the alleged fact that Mr.. Latimer did
not continue across the road after starting.
when Soper was first charged with the
responsibility for the death of Mr. Lati-
mer, he was unaware of the death of the
alleged victim of his automobile truck, and
almost collapsed when told of it.
THE arrest of Soper had been con-
templated for forty-eight hours, Sheriff
Whalen and Lieutenant Giles, having sat
isfied themselves Thursday night that he
was the operator of the auto truck. They
postponed the arrest. keeping Soper under
surveillance, in the expectation that he
would surrender himself. When the Off
GERS first taxed Soper with responsibility
for the killing of Mr.. Latimer, they say he
denied knowledge of the occurrence, but
upon further questioning. they say, he
admitted he was the man wanted and
made full confession.
Sheriff Whalen gave Lieutenant Giles
and the local police department chief
credit for the arrest. He also expressed
his thanks to Major Pullman for detailing
two detectives to cooperate with him in
the investigation of the case and search
for the driver.
Lieutenant Giles received tip which
led to the arrest. Shortly after it became
known that the driver had eluded capture,
some unidentified person telephoned to
Lieutenant Giles and informed him that
man living at Clarksburg could tell of
the condition of an automobile truck owner
living there on the night of the accident,
and that this would solve the mystery as
to the whereabouts of the man sought
This tip was followed, and the arrest and
confession of Soper ensued.
AT IL O'Clock last night Sheriff Whalen,
Lieutenant Giles, and Deputy Sheriff Hew-
lit raped on the door of Sopers home
and awakened him from sound slumber.
Soper inquired what their business was.
"'You ought to know, replied Sheriff
Whalen. You are wanted for hitting
man with an automobile
81 am not the man you're looking for
1t must be somebody else.' Soper is re-
ported 10 nave Sald.
"Whalen then informed Soper that it
was known that he operated an automo-
bile truck past Drummond at the time the
accident occurred and added 1t may
have been mistake and you did what
you could to avoid the accident but you
are certainly the man.
"Soper then is said to have admitted
that his truck struck a man at Drummond
but he insisted he exerted every effort to
prevent hitting the pedestrian, even run
ming over the car tracks and ties and close
to wire pole to avert an accident.
After a few moments conversation
about the accident, Soper inquired as to
the condition of the man run down by the
truck. Informed that Mr.. Latimer had
died the morning after the accident, Soper
reeled backward. placed his hands on his
head and appeared to be on the verge of
breakdown.
According to Sheriff Whalen, Soper
made the following statement to him after
learning of Mr.. Latimer's death:
81 carried a lot of produce to Center
Market Wednesday and fell in with some
friends after Getting my money 1t was
Thanksgiving Eve, and we became con-
vivial About O'Clock told my friends
had to leave them and drive my truck
home. Charles Mullinix, who was with
me, advised me not to try to run the truck
home, but to leave il in town. insisted
| was in fit condition to operate the truck,
and. despite his protests, started Off from
the market toward home.
80 experienced no difficulty in operating
the truck. At DrummOnd several persons
got off car which was just ahead of me
going up the road. slowed down when
the car stopped. Three persons hurried
across the road and fourth one started
across but stepped back. thought he
which he was going. but he backed into
the path Of my truck. worked the wheel
of my stearing gear as fast and hard as |
could and even went over the tracks and
ties to keep from hitting him, but failed.
| thought the man was merely knocked
down and not badly hurt and continued
on my thirty-mile journey into the coun-
try. | reached home about 8 o'clock We'd
nesday night. ! did not think the man
was seriously hurt. otherwise would have
stopped and taken him to a hospital
"Soper is married and has three children.
He owns farm at Clarksburg, and has
been engaged in the huckster business for
a number Of years. Attorney Garrett said
Mrs. Soper was Frustrated by the arrest of
her husband on so serious charge.
Sheriff Whalen informed Lee d. Lati-
mer, brother Of the victim of the tragedy,
Immediately after the arrival of the officers
and their prisoner at the Rockville jail at