Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-03

Concerted action on the part of the po-
lire movers of the city and the various as
soclations of business men is being urged
IN an effort to check the daily toll of lives
beinR exacted by reckless drivers of de-
livery trucks in the streets, not only In
the mercantile centres but in the resden-
tial sections where the tratllc laws do not
appear to have reached.
Time and again inquests before the
Coroner have developed evidence that the
rules of the road have been disregarded
and even deliberately violated by truck
drivers in their efforts to catch trains or
ferry boats or in other cases to complete
A days deliveries and get back to the
garages as early as possible The price
of such speed is being paid by innocent
chdrens lives. and men and women are
being sacrificed to an extent that now
appals the municipal authorities
EAGERNEss TO MAKE TIME"
A Coroner knight has expressed himself
I in strong denuncaton of the carelessness
and Superintendent of Police Robinson has
issued stringent orders to the traits
squad and to the patrolman of the several
districts that offenders are to he arrested
forthwith. Still the fatal eageress ito
make time" and to speed up" on human
lty-crowded streets has been pursued with
unabated vigor until the patience of Coro-
ner and police heads has been exhausted
and the business mems associations are
preparing to take hand in compelling a
cessation of the deadly practice.
The matter was brought to a focus to-
day by the report to the Coroner of three
fatalities occurring within a few hours
yesterday The victims of yesterdays
'inotortruck juggernaut" were:
Miss Ida E. Packer. AZ years old, $685.
North 10th street, a teacher in the Com
modore John Barry Public School.
Mrs Anna Shibe. 171O Bowers street,
struck and killed by an automobile at
9th street and Woodland avenue.
William Franklin, so years old, 1912
North Sth street, who died in the Hahne-
mann Hospital last night after being
struck by a motortruck at Broad and
Green streets
Harry Muzlin. years old, S41 League
street was killed by an autotruck at 4th
and League streets Sunday.
Mrs Mary Cohen, 25 years old, 1715
North Eighth street, was knocked down
and injured this morning at Seventh and
Market streets by speeding truck. She
was taken to jefferson Hospital and is in
serious condition.
Arrests of tie drivers of the vehicles
involved in the accidents were made
promptly and the prisoners are awaiting
the Coroner's action in those cases where
death resulted.
In addition to these cases, all occur
ring within the last "a hours, another
automobile fatality is still under inves-
tigation by police and coroner. Harry
Muzlin, years old. 341 League street,
was run over and killed on Sunday within
sight of his home. So infuriated were
witnesses of this killing that the driver
OF the truck was being roughly used by
mob of more than 500 persons when the
police came to his rescue
COPS ASTOUNDED.
The police say they are astounded by
the wilful disregard of ordinary rules and
precautions exhibited by the motortruck
drivers. 1t was brought out in the case
OF Miss Packer, for whose death Frank
Phillips, FL years old, 1908 South Marshall
street, was committed without bail by
Magistrate Pennock, that direct violation
or traffic rules had resulted in her death
MISS Packer was on her way to visit Mrs.
Louis Middleton, at 2207 West Venango
street. She had alighted from a north
bound 22d street trolley car. She was the
nrst passenger to get off and hurried
around the front end OF the car. In doing
SO she stepped directly in front of the
truck before the driver had time to apply
the brakes.
The police declare this fact does not
excuse Phillips, as the law expressly en-
JOINS trucks, automobiles ana wagons to
s.op When running parallel with trolley
cars when the latter stop