The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-08
MUIRHEAD NEAR
 COLLAPSE BEFORE
 CORONER PHELAN
Nichols Contractor Breaks Down As He Recalls
 Fatal Accident.

William R. Muirhead the Nichols contractor whose automobile fatally injured Frederick Szabo, or Salvo, in Stratford, May 31, broke down while reciting the details of the accident before Coroner John J. Phe1an to- day.
 So deeply affected was Muirhead that the coroner excused him from the witness stand, and allowed him several minutes to regain his com posture. Muirhead repeatedly ex- pressed his profound grief at the trag- edy and dep1ored the fact that he should have been driving a car which should figure in such a mishap.
 The stories of Jacob Miller, foreman for the Bridgeport Gas Light Co.,, by whom SaIvo was employed and of Contractor Muirhead agree as to the manner in which Salvo received the injuries which resulted in his death.
 Salvo's duty was to attend to a, pipe stretched across the roadway through which water was brought to settle the dirt when the trenches were being filled. He was at work on a line be- ing laid to the Weatogue clubhouse, formerly Columbus farm, owned by the late George O. Lines. He turned the water into the trench or shifted the pipe across the roadway as di- rected to allow trolley cars or other vehicles to pass.
 Foreman Miller said MT. Muirhead was driving north in his automobile and he saw John Fabrizie of 29 Co., lumbus place, who was the. lookout, give the signal to stop. He saw Muir heads car strike Sa1vo and throw him down. The front wheel on the left side appeared to go over the body and Miller saw him squirn un- der the car SO that the rear wheel went over him also.f He thought Muirhead ran about 35 feet further before stopping the car.
 In telling his story MT. Muirhead said he was watching the men in the trench and did not see Fabrizie, the lookout, or hear him shout. He said he saw Salvo run from the trench and thought he intended to cross the road in front of him. He then turned his car to pass behind SaIvo.
 Instead of crossing the road Salvo stopped to pick up his pipe. Then MT. Muirhead turned his car in the other direction. He did not see the small iron pipe until he struck it and Salvo did not have time to get out of the way. MT. Muirhead testified that in turning his car quickly from one side to the other he ran into the troll ley tracks which are high there. The jar threw his feet off the accelerator and brake and the car went pumping
  For about 20 feet he said he had no control over the car other than to steer it because his feet were off the brake.
 When MT. Afuirhead attempted to tell how he got out of the ear and went back to render what assistance he could to the injured man. his eyes filled and the stammered and was un- able to proceed. Coroner Phelan then excused him for ten minutes and after MT. Muirhead had regained his com posture he described how, he helped pick up Salvo and then drove him to the Bridgeport hospital.
 At first it was believed SaIvo would recover but he died Tuesday night. The coroner continued the hearing until o'clock tomorrow morning when fellow workmen of Sa1vo will be ex- anined.
 Hundreds of friends of sa1vo, at- tended his funeral held this morning from the undertaking parlors of A, R. Abrtola at s:so, and a half hour later from the Holy Rosary church where requiem high mass was sung.
 There were great many flora, pieces. MT. Salvo was a member o1 the Venice Athletic club. Burial was in St. MichaeFs cemetery. The hearse was drawn by four white horses.