Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-09
CHILD CRUSHED
To DEATH WHEN
BY AUTO

~ buOOn ~ UO ~
Sarah Margaret Culpepper, aged IL
years, was killed, and her sister, Min
Lie Sue, aged 3 years. terribly injur-
ed here late Sunday afternoon when
they were struck by an automobile at
the corner Of Lee and College streets.
Little Minnie Sue is now at the
Americus and Sumter County hospital,
where she hoyers between life and
death, with a bare hope of recovery.
The little girls are the daughters OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles A. Culpepper on
Lee street, the father being in the en-
ploy of the Seaboard Air Line railroad
aS engineer. between Savannah and
Montgomery.
The accident occurred about $50
o'clock, and was witnessed by only a
few persons. The automobile which
crushed the little girls life out and in
jured her sister was big six-cylinder
Studebaker, driven by Mrs. Jerry Mug
ivan, wife of one of the owners of the
John Robinson Shows, which re win
tering in Americus.
Mrs. Mugivan was learning to drive
the machine under the instruction of
Mrs. Bert Bowers, who also occupied
the front seat of the car. Mr.. Bowers
is the partner of Mr.. Mugivan in the
ownership of the Robinson Shows.
The ,Studebaker came down Lee
street at a moderate rate of speed and
vas about to turn west into College
street, when another car passed rap
idly, causing Mrs. Mugivan to fear a
collision. The children were stand
ing on the sidewalk near the crossing,
waiting for the automobile to pass in
front of them into College street.
AS the big car started to make the
turn, Mrs. Mugivan attempted to apply
the brake, but inadvertently pressed
the foot throttle and the machine shot
over the curb and upon the sidewalk,
striking the children and hurting them
under the wheels. The machine con-
tinued on across the sidewalk to the
low brick coping bordering the lawn
in front of DR.. w. S. Prather's resi-
dtnce and grinding the bodies of the
little girls against the bricks. Here
the car stopped, with the front wheels
projecting over the coping.
Several persons rushed to the scene
c; the accident and extricated the bod
les of the children from underneath
the car.
Sarah Margaret was found to have
been horribly crushed, the ribs, breast
bone and shoulder blades having been
S splintered.. She was still breathing.
but expired just before reaching the
hospital
Her sister, Minnie Sue. sustained a
broken right arm. which was also
badly lacerated and it is believed that
she is injured more or less seriously
At the hospital this afternoon it was
stated that the child has slight
chance for recovery, as her condition
is somewhat improved at this time.
Charles A. Culpepper, father of the
was en- route from Savannah
to Americus at the time of the acci-
dent, driving train No. Ia on the Sea-
board Air Line railroad. He was noti-
lied of the tragedy at Helena and was
from duty arriving In Ameri-
Gus at 11:30 Sunday night
Mrs. Mugivan and Mrs. Bowers are
Frustrated with grief over the tragic
affair, which has cast shadow over
the entire community.
The funeral services will be held at
10 O'Clock Tuesday morning at the Lee
Street Methodist church. with the pas
tor, Rev. George NJ. Acree officiating.
The interment will follow at Oak
Grove cemetery. The pallbearers will
be T. R Cole, Neon Buchanan, E l.
Murray, e. P. Market, Gordon Brooks,
T. NJ. Furlow.
Ten young girls, friends Of the de-
ceased will accompany the party as
honorary escort, they being Lucille
Christine Brown, Mary Eliz-
abeth Easterlin. Eugenia Walker. Ira
Gatewood, Ann Heys, Matte Claire
McMath, Claire Harris. Mary Francis
Evans, Annie Ruth Ray.
The arrangements are in charge OF
Nat LeMaster, OF the Americus Under
taking Co.