The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-10-27
DEATH Of GIRL
is BLAMED On
F0RDE
Coroner's Jury So Finds
After Thorough Probe
of Accident.
MANY WITNESSES
GAVE TESTIMONY
Naval Officer Said to Have
Driven Car at a Dan
gerous Speed.
MANY WITNESSES
GAVE TESTIMONY

Eight witnesses testified before q
cororer's jury yesterday afternoon in
the inquiry into the death of Irma
Wilson, who died as a result of in
Jurles sustained in an automobile col
llslon early Tuesday morning. prac-
tlcally all touched in their testimony
on the alleged dangerous manner in
which the auto, driven by Lieut.. Fred
er1ck L. Forde, had been handled,
Several witnesses told of how mar
roWly they had escaped either person
al injury, or of colliding with the
naval officers car, and two street en-
ployes said they had narrowly es-
capped with whole skins.
After considering this evidence for
short time, the jury presented a
verdict, charging Lieut.. L. K. Forde
with manslaughter. A warrant
charging such an offense, was made
for Forde last night but the officer
to whom it had been entrusted had
been unable to make service upon the
naval officer. The bond, upon the ar
rest of Lieut.. Forde, will be fixed al
$1,000.
The remains Of the unfortunate
victim, after having been viewed bx
the coroner's jury, were prepared fol-
shipment, and on the noon train yes.
terday the body was sent to her home
in Mobile. 1t was said the right name
OF the woman was Maggie Glover.
The six men composing the cor
oner's jury were: Messrs. Arthur w
Davis, W. ]. Roberts, John G. Rupert
James F. Whiting, Thomas Tarrants
and Robert Fillingim, the latter two
members Of the police force. After
viewing the remains of the woman
! they adjourned until 8 o'clock yester-
day afternoon, when the jury assem-
bled in the Office of Judge Will l.
Johnson, and testimony of witnesses
| taken.
GIST OF TESTIMONY.
Walter Carr, taxicab driver. said
that he saw the Overland driven by
Lieut.. Forde several times during the
night, and that at times the car was
moving perhaps at a rate of As miles
an hour. 1t was clearly exceeding the
speed limit, the witness said. Sew.
eral times the auto had been seen by
witness, and about IL o'clock, il
finally drew up in front of the San
Carlos hotel, when the two men oc-
cupying the car, got out. Shortly aft
erward, witness said, a naval officer
whom he did not know, engaged him
| (witness) to drive him to the naval
station, remarking at the time that
he was not willing to go further with
Forde, who, he intimated, was toe
reckless in his handling of the Over.
land.
Glenn Largue testified to the con.
dition of the woman's body wher
turned over to him for preparation
for burial. He said the body was
fearfully lacerated, ribs broken, face
cut, and bruised all over. He EN-.
balmed the body for shipment K
Mobile.
G. B. Thorpe saw the collision, anc
said the Overland car was going much
faster than the laws allowed. He
said the Ford, which was driven By
Mr.. Upp, and which was struck BY
the Overland, was going at a low
speed, on low gear. Witness said he
found the bodies of both women un
der the car, one Of them under the
step while the other was further be
meath, in ar unconscious condition
the wheels evidently having passed
over the body. He assisted in rescv
ing the bodies. He said he nevel
heard any warning sound from tn,
Overland as it approached corner
or crossings at any time.
Rufus Peterson, a street employe
said he was at work on Palafox stree
when the automobile passed him am
whizzed so close to him that he mar
rowly escaped personal injury. M
warnings were sounded, witness said
and several times he said the autt
came near striking him. He said q
one time, when working near the in