New Britain herald., 1916-12-15
KILLED BY AUTO AS
 HE SLEPT IN ROAD
Owen Kelley, Plainvile Freight Handler, Meets Sudden Death
POLICE SEEK COMPANION

Victim and Three Friends Spent Eve
 ming in New Britain Saloons
 Driver of Auto Was Taking Party
 Home From Dance Here,
 Owen Kelley of Boston. about 40 years old, a freight handler employed by the New Haven road for about two weeks at it's Plainville transfer station, was instantly killed about o'clock this morning near the Apple by barn this side of Andrews cross ing on the Plainville road by an auto mobile operated by Walter Blake, 27, of "A Brook street, Waterbury, Blake, a negro, was held for a time on technical charge of mansaugh- ter, pending an investigation by po- lice, Medical Examiner Harry A. Elcock and Prosecuting Attorney George w. Klett. He was later re- leased on his own recognizance. the testimony of witnesses and automo- bile tracks at the scene of accident indicating that there was no criminal negligence and that, all efforts were used to avoid Kelley, who was lying in the highway, either in a drunken stupor or asleep The theory that he might have been assaulted by com- panions is not believed by the au- thorities
 Jack O'Brien, alias Thomas Burke, and Francis A. Lyon, alias Francis A. Lloyd, of Boston, Kelley's com panions last night and fellow work men at the PlainvilIe station, were given thirty days in jail each for in toxication by Judge James T. Meskill in police court today. The fourth member of the party, described as be- ing six feet tall with a disfgured face, is sought as 1t is believed that he may be able to tell how Kelley hap pened to be lying in the roadway. He had disappeared when the police arrived and has not been traced O'Brien nd Lyon were in semi stupor this morning and appeared to remember nothing of the tragedy
 Skull Crushed Like Egg Shell.
 The back of Kelley's skull was shattered like an egg shell, his chest was stove in and his left forearm fractured. It is believed that he never knew what struck him al though witnesses said that he ap- peared to be making an attempt to get up and had raised himself on one elbow just as he was struck. All unopened pint of whiskey was found in one pocket of his overalls and 8 pint of gin at his feet.
 Blake had brought a party of eight to New Britain to attend a wait ers' ball at the Holmes & Hoffman hall. They left the city shortly after i o'clock on the return trip. With Blake on the front seat were Edward Bailey and Sidney Brown. Frederick Fuller was riding on the right hand tool box while the rear seats were occupied by Miss Nellie Larkins. Mrs. Mary McKethan, Miss Annie Long, Miss Goldie Fletcher and John w. Rodgers.
 The automobile was making about 22 miles an hour, according to Blake and others, as it approached the crossing. They estimated that it had been slowed down to less than 15 miles an hour when Kelley was struck. According to those on the front seat they saw nothing of Ke1- ley until the headlights showed what appeared to be a folded blanket in the roadway. They thought it to be such, dropped from some preceding l automobile, until almost upon it. r Then it was seen to move and they realized that it was a human form.
 According to those on the front seat, Blake desperately tried to avoid running down the form and would 1 probably have succeeded had not the wheels s11idded at the critical point At the risk of overturning the car he ! turned~ far out into the edge of the road, the car threatening to turn tuf- tie at any moment In order to pre- vent it from doing so as the 1 wheels skidded, the brakes were released. The right front wheel ! struck Kelley's head and chest. The automomile was stopped within 15O : feet and the occupants went back in an attempt to give aid to the injured 1 man. Going in search of other as- sistance lat once was impossible as Blake's car was out of commission the right front wheel collapsing and coming off the axle as it struck i Other wheels were strained by the skidding.
 A short distance behind was a car operated by James Strong of 92 Whit 1 ing street, Plainville, containing Mrs William O'Neil' and George Weston of Plainville and Edward $. Bailey of 1 Southington. Their aid was asked | and Strong made a record trip back to New Britain in his car informing 1 Sergeant T. M. Herting at police | headquarters upon his arrival.
 Ask for Big Fellow
 Policeman Gustav Hellberg and Hanford Dart were rushed to the
 scene in the patrol and Medical EN | aminer Elcock was notified. Blake was taken into custody pending an In vestigation. Upon arrival the police discovered O'Brien and Lyon shor' distance from the scene, leaning upor each other for support and unable tc