The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-30
]. r. johnson Couldn't Stop in
Time to Save Jesse Weaverling.
BOYS Head Crushed In by Front
of Motor Car.
TO Be HELD
County Attorney VIII Investi-
gate Accidents Cause.
Boy Was Crossing Street on
Way Home From School.

While trying to escape two racing
automobiles at noon today twelve
year-old Jesse weaverling was struck
by a Hudson Super-six driven by J. r.
johnson at Sixth and Western avenues
and fatally injured. His death is ex-
pected momentarily at St Francis
hospital
The accident happened at time
when there were many persons in that
vicinity and at least half dozen told
the police they saw it. Without hesl-
tation they declared that the cars were
recing-some stating that they belleV-
ed the Johnson machine was travelling
at a speed of fifty miles an hour
The little boy was on his way home
from school His home was at BIS
Western avenue. less than half block
north OF the place where he was
struck. His parents are Mr.. and Mrs.
George Weaverling. Miss Matte Payne
was going home to lunch and said she
saw the accident.
Il saw the boy coming north across
the street." she said, "and at the
same time l saw two big cars coming
rapidly from the east. I noticed him
look at the oncoming cars and start
running towards the north curb.
Il was frightened and L may be
mistaken. but it appeared to me that
one car struck him and the other
dragged him at least twenty feet. 1
understand other people say the car
did not drag him. l think it did"
Cars Were Racing?
The car driven by johnson is new.
The other car, Il comparatively new
Paige, belonging to the Palace garage
on West Sixth avenue, was driven by
Golden Becker. There is not a mark
on ihe Johnson car to indicate that it
struck the boy. On the left rear wheel
OF the Paige car there is a sprinkle of
blood
According to witnesses the two cars
came over the hill east of Western
avenue together, the Paige car next to
the car tracks and the Hudson next 70
the north eurbing The tracks, still
visible after the accident, show that
the Paige car was turned to the street
car tracks while the Hudson was pull
ed in against the curb.
Car SLidded so Yards.
About twenty feet west of the west
ilne OF Western avenue the boy was
STRUCK Whatever it was that struck
MN tore away the right side of his
lace and forehead. His brain was ex-
posed and even before he could be
carried TO a residence u great quantity
OF blood accumulated upon the brick
paving.
The speed with which the Hudson
was travelling is indicated to some ex-
tent by the fact that tracks show the
roar wheels skidded for fifty yards
after the brakes were applied The
distance was stepped off by members
% the police force Immediately after
the accident One peculiar thing not
explained by witnesses. is the fact that
the pool of blood where the boy lay
was At least ten feet from the nea rest
automobile tracks.
J. r. johnson did not deny that his
car struck the hoy. He stopped per-
haps half block west of the accident
and remained until the police came.
He did deny racing
Not Racing. Says Becker.
Golden Becker, driver of the Paige
car. denied that he hit the boy or
that his car dragged him. He also
denied that he was racing
As I drove over the top of the hill
crest he said, 'the other car came
up behind me like a rocket. 1 was
driving probably twenty-five miles an
hour for I was in hurry to get back
I, the garage. I kept up with the
other car but I was not racing and
didn't suppose the other driver was l
am certain of one thing. and that is
that nv car did not strike the boy
How do you explain the blood on
that rear wheel?" was asked
That T'a0dy Wheel
Well" he said, my car passed
within three feet of him and 1 sup
pose It flew on the wheel as I went
past"
DR.. C. r. Silverthorne was on the
ground a few minutes after the acci-
dent and examined the boy Even at
that time the child was taking only an
occasional breath His little body
was stretched out upon bed clothing
hastily thrown upon the floor with a
coarse bandage around his head,
placed there as an emergency meas
ure.
Mother Collapsed
The boys mother was notified and
ran screaming across the street She
took one lock ut the torn ard broken
body of her boy and collapsed. 1t
was nece ssary for Two men to half
carry her back to her home. a great
crowd collected ard l.efore a physician
arrived crowded N and out of the lit
Tie room Women were crying and
men We're silent. Outside there was
much very strong talk about speeding
automobilists.
When the gray ambulance backed
up 10 the curbing and the little BODY
was carried out. not a word was said
Many of them had seen the boy alive
ana Well less than ten minutes before.
Saw the Car Strike Him.
Miss Laura McGivern, no lives at
5O5 Western avenue and who is a
cousin of the boy, saw the accident
from a distance of a block She did
not know il was her own cousin but
SAYS she saw the boy lodging the cars
ana saw the Hudson car strike him.
Jesse Weaverling came to Topeka
with MS mother from Omaha less than
TWO weeks ago. His father is en-
pioyed by the Topeka Milling company
ana has been here two months Be