The diamond drill., 1920-06-05
STRUCK WHILE CROSSING STREET
FROM RIG SHE WAS RIDING ON
IURYExoNoRATED The DRIVER
Held That Mr.. Henry Was BlameIess
For the Accident Because of
Surrounding Conditions

Eva Lee, an eight year old doughter
OF Mr.. Charles Lee, was hit and in
stantly killed by a Hudson car driven
by Clyde Henry last Monday forenoon.
The blow broke the child's neck and
she died before she could be got to
the hospital. Mr.. Henry didn't see the
child and didn't know that he struck
her until warning cry caused him TO
stop and he saw the child lying In the
road. He hastened to her assistance
and rushed her to the hospital but life
was extinct.
The accident happened in front of
the Swedish Lutheran church and was
witnessed by number OF people who
were on the street at the time. The
testimony OF all the witnesses coin
cIded as to the main events OF the oc-
currance.
A coroner's jury was empaneled at
once and searching examination was
made by Prosecuting Attorney McDon-
ough into all OF the details of the
affair.
How Accident Happened
The Lee girl and two other girl
playmates were coming from school.
On Crystal Avenue they saw horse
and wagon and the three children ran
out and caught on" the rig. The
Lee girl got away up into the wagon
box and was sitting on some bags
The other two children were hanging
onto the tail board OF the wagon as
it was driven down the avenue.
When the rig reached the Sanders
corner the two girls that were hang
Ing onto the tail board let go and ran
10 the walk. The Lee girl, seeing her
chums on the walk, started TO climb
down, the wagon all OF the time in
motion.
In the mean time Clyde Henry. driv-
ing L. A. Henry's Hudson car. round
ed the corner from Fifth street, driv-
ing his car In high gear. There is
sharp grade al that point and that,
together with the necessity for round
ing the corner slowly. slowed down
his engine. He continued i'm high
gear to about in front OF the Fierce
residence when his engine had slowed
up so that he decided TO shift into
second. A car stood along the curb
in front OF the Varney house and
Clyde had to pass between that car
and the oncoming wagon. AS he
rounded the car he completed the
shift and met the wagon. Just at
that point the Lee girl dropped of the
end OF the rig and darted for the side
walk.
She was not soon enough to get
wholly in front OF the car, the fender
striking her in the side OF the head
as she rushed against the moving car
Mr.. Henry says that he didn't see the
child at all but heard some one yell
and he stopped his car. Looking back
he saw Joe Leonard rushing to the
middle OF the road to pick up a child
lying there.
Mr.. Henry turned his car immcd-
lately and taking the injured girl into
II hurried for the hospital where Il
was found the child was dead.
Worst Accident SO Far
The accident was the worst caused
by an automobile in the city OF Crys-
tai Falls 10 date and was the occas-
sion OF genuine sorrow, both for MIR.
Lee who but few months ago lost
another daughter. killed by a street
car IN the city OF Detroit. and also Mr..
Henry who IS a careful driver and
who grIeved very much over the ac-
cident
In his examination OF the witnesses
at the inquest Mr.. McDonough was
particular to learn II the Henry car
was driven at a fast rate Of speed
and everyone Of the witnesses said u
was not being so driven.
The verdict OF the jury exonorated
Mr.. Henry from any blame and found
that the child came to her death
from unavoidable accident.