Putnam patriot., 1916-05-12
KILLED BY AUTO
Charles JaqueS Knocked Down on Pom- fret Street at s O'clock Monday Evening Died at 10 O'clock at Hospital from
 Fractured SknIl. Leaves Large Family

Charles fJaques, 5s, q well known farmer of Putnnm Heights, was killed by an automobile from Delisle's garage Monday night. The car was driven by Frank Vadnsis and struck Jaques , on Pomfret street near Canal street at s o'clock. The man died two hours later at the Day kimball hospital from a fractured skull. lie never regained consciousness. The driver of the car was taken to the police station where he told his story to Captain Ryan and was allowed to go.
 MT. Jaques had come down from his | home to attend iNeighbors' Night at Putnam Grange, of which he is q member. The men were to serve the refreshments and at about s o'clock MT. Jaques and his neighbor, Frank l Smith, left Odd Fellows hall to go 10 Tetreault's barber shop to borrow a couple of white 6arber's coats 10 use while serving. They did not know that the committee had provided a sufficient number of coats in the hall.
 As the two men reached the corner of Canal street they started 10 cross to the opposite side as the automobile came along. MT. smith stepped buck but Jaques kept on few steps, started back and then turned again. By this time the auto was upon him and he and the driver were trying to dodge each other The right fender of the machine struck Jaques throwing him onto the sidewalk where he landed on his head. The driver of the machine rushed to Dr. Ferry's office and then back to where Jaques lay and he took the injured man to the hospital. It was seen at once that he had but a short time to live and relatives were notified.
 The auto WAS coming up Pomfret street and the driver turned to the left in trying to avoid hitting Jaques. The machine ran over the curb and the sidewalk and when brought to a stop was on Canal street headed north hay ing made little more than a omplete semi circle.
 In talking with PATRIOT repre- sentative at the garage about 10 o'clock Vadnais said: "I was coming from Willimantic. AS l reached the Putnam Steam Laundry just west of Canal street 1 was going at about if teen miles an hour. 1 saw two men start to cross the street and slowed down and wns running very slowly. The man l hit kept going right in front of the ear as l turned to go around him and l thought 1 was going to run into the corner of lthe building nearby. The right fender struck him and he fell on the sidewalk. l did all 1 could to avoid the accident
 Vadnais is 20 years old and has been driving a car for four years. He was formerly employed by Rev. c. F. Be- dard, pastor of St. Mary's church and had been working for the Delisle ga- rage but short time.
 Jaques leaves a wife and eleven chill dren Mrs. Pearl Lang, Providence, Fred, who lives somewhere in Massa. chusetls; Harry of Hartford; Mrs. Leona Humphries of Danielson; Wal ter of Worcester; Nellie, Daisy, Doro thy, Donald, Doris, William, all of Putnam.
 Coroner A. c. Bill of Danielson came to Putnam Tuesday afternoon but no formal inquest was held. The coroner went over the scene of the ae- cident with Frank Smith, who was with Jsques, and Frank Vadnais, the driver of the car. They then returned to the office of Dr. F. A. Morrell, med. ical examiner, where one or two wit nesses had been summoned.
 The coroner stated that he might hold an inquest later. He said an en- deayor would be made to locate the passenger that was in the automobile.
 Jerry Labby, one of the first at the scene, told the coroner that the pas. senger told him that he was going to Leominster, Mass. "I told him, said Mir. ,Labby, "that they might want him for a witness and he said that he did not see the man until after he was struck"
 Miss Nellie Jaques and her brother were in the room and the coroner told them that the body might be removed from Bfllard & Clark's undertaking rooms to the home.