Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-30
MISS ETHEL PAYNE
IS KILLED BY AUTO
>sSS
Run Down by Machine Driven
by Lloyd T. Wilson, Jr..
Minilter's Son.
ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE
Umbrella Prevents Her Seeing
Car, While Rain Blinds
Motors Occupants.

Miss Ethel wynne Payne. OF 3O5 North
Rowland Street, was struck and in
stantly killed by the automobile Of
Rev. Lloyd r Wilson. D. u. pastor
of the Grace Street Baptist Church,
driven by DR. Wilson's son. Lloyd T
Wilson. Jr.. at Hanover Avenue and
Rowland street about $50 o'clock
last night as she was returning from
Hollywood Cemetery. where she had
placed wreath OF flowers on her
mothers grave.
Lloyd T. Wilson, Jr.. with his brother.
Ray Wilson. was driving the machine
back 10 the home at 2ob7 Hanover
Avenue. after taking his mother 10 a
hospital Mrs. Wilson has been iii for
some time. and her physicians deemed
il necessary TO remand her to the hos
pital last night. DR.. Wilson remained
ut tho institution with his wife The
brothers were within block of their
home when the accident occurred, and
Miss Payne was within half block
OF her residence.
Police Sergeant Waymack reached
tho scene shortly after the accident, and
was followed by Policemen Reid and
Latham. After the death of Miss
Payne. the officers arrested young Will
con on a technical charge OF involun-
tary manslaughter. He was bailed for
his appearance in Police Court. The
police said last night that their investi-
cation showed the accident to have
been unavoidable. and that the arrest
Of Wilson was a forrnality.
UMBRELLA PREVENTS HER
FROM SEEING MACHINE
The accident occurred during the
heaviest downpOur OF the evening.
Rain was falling in torrents. and per-
sons i'll the neighhorhood said that it
was possible 20 see but short dis
tance. Although many of the arc
lights in the vicinity were out. the
one on the corner Of Hanover Avenue
and Rowland Street was burning. Miss
Payne was struck down short dis
tance from this light
She had met A friend at Main Street
when she lcf, the street car, and had
insisted that her companion accompany
her 10 her home. but the violence OF the
storm prevented, and Miss Payne set
gu; 10 go the remainder of the dis
tance alone. She held her umbrella
close over her head as she crossed
in either direction.
Lloyd Wilson was proceeding toward
his home at slow rate ot speed His
windshield was up and. although his
headlights were burning, the downpour
prevented them penetrating the dark
ness for any great distance. He had
just caught glimpse Of dark form
ahead OF him and applied his brakes
when fash OF lightning revealed the
presence of the young woman.
MISS PAYNE DEAD
WHEN DOCTOR ARRIVES
Wilson at once applied his emergency
brake, but Miss Payne walked directly
into the path Of the car. The left head
light and fender struck her. and she
was knocked backward, toward the
center of the street Wilson stopped
his machine almost instantly and, with
his brother, hurried TO her assistance
In the meantime. j. 3. Lipscomb. Of
2l05 Hanover Avenue. reached them
He had been sitting at his window
watching the storm and had witnessed
the accident. The three men were
Joined by w. F. Dunkle, of o1O4 Han
over Avenue. within a few minutes, and
they carried Miss Payne into Dunkles
home. One OF The Wilson boys sum-
moned DIR. Edward Mccarthy and the
ambulance. while the others. with Miss
Dunkle. did all possible for Miss PAYNE
Evidently she had been injured in
ternaiy. for blood eushed from her
mouth and nose. No injury was found
on her head. and it is thought that all
the force OF the blow she sustained
was centered on her side and chest.
DIR. Mccarthy was the first physician
10 reach the house, and he at once pro-
nounced her dead
UNAVOIDABLE ACCIDENT,
DECLARES WITNESS
j. B Lipscomh said that. in his opin-
ion. the accident was entirely unavoid-
able He declared that he did not see
Miss Payne until she was Very close
20 the machine, and that the manner
in which She carried her umbrella would
have prevented her seeing the ap-
preaching car. Mr. Iipscomb said that
Wilson was driving his machine slowly.
Young Wilson summoned his father
from the hospital as soon as he asccr-
tanned that Miss Payne was dead. Or.
Wilson told OF the desperate illness Of
his wife and how the boys had con
veyed her to the hospital He wns
fearful that she would learn OF the
accident and said that every rrecau-
tlon would be exercised 10 prevent il.
pr Wilson added that his son was Il
careful driver, and that he was GER
tain he was not driving fast when tho
accident occurred.
Young Wilson and his brother sus-
tanned a severe shock as result of
the accident Both claimed they were
driving slowly and carefully. They
said that the windshield was up and
was covered with rain: that the terri
BILE downpour prevented them seeinR
ahead, and probably accounted for
their failure to sec Miss Payne.
WILL HOLD INQUEST
PROBABLY TO-M0RROw
Waymack found that the machine
had proceeded but a few feet after
striking Miss Payne His investigation
Oh vnI hat tlvhs ~ hE