The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-16
Van Noy Admits Accident


Van Noy made a statement Ia Sheriff
Garrett at the county jail Saturday
night. in which he denied that he was
driving the death car.
II was deadly drunk Mt the timc.''
he stated. "and Johnson was driving
the ear. was aware OF nothing
until | heard a crash and a sudden
stopping of the machine Looking be-
hind me. ! saw the bodies of the
people the machine had hit lying III
the street. jumped out of the car.
and ran back. waving my hands ut
the garage near which the accident
had occurred in an effort TO call their
attention To the scene. and also shout.
ed To them to call for an ambulance.
AS | neared the spot where the col.
lision had occurred. noticed that
people were beginning to collect there.
| walked nearer, and then started TO
return to the car. noticed that
the car was not in the same place
in which it had been when / first left
1t, but that 1t had evidently been
driven around the block and parked
at the curb. Johnson was gone.
Told Wife the Story
"Thc things that had happened
since the accder had tended to sober
me, and my thoughts were running in
fairly smooth manner by the time |
found the car where Johnson had
finally left IL. | drove home, and after
reaching there told my wife of what
had occurred. She expressed the be-
lief at the time that perhaps only
slight injuries had been sustained by
those whom the machine had struck.
1--WE had been called TO Pauls Valley.
and believing the accident To be only.
slight one. We departed for Pauls
Valley. However. We could not sleep.
and remained awake all night. was
worrying over what had occurred and
my wife was trying TO soothe me.
All day at Pauls Valley We were wor-
ried. | never for moment. however.
imagined that the accident had been
so serious.
Learns Of Tragedy
"Wc returned To Ardmore this ar.
ternoon. At the station we entered a
taXicab ana started for our home. AS
we nearcd the spot where the accident
had occurred. the driver Of the taxi
remarked that II was the place where
the 'smashup had occurred ON Friday
night He mentioned that scvernl
people had been killed. | was horror
stricken and asked IL anyone was dy.
Ing. He told mo two were dead. My
wife almost tainted"
Upon reaching home. Mrs. Van Noy
attempted to phone Sheriff Garrett.
Failing to do so. Van Noy walked In
a roundabout way to the Palace rooms
from which place he attempted IN
phone the sheriff The proprietor OF
the hotel managed to get connection
with Sheriff Garrett who took Van
Noy to jail.
Relating the incidents prior to the
collision, Van Noy stated that hc
found johnson dt Tie Palace rooms
during the earlier narl Of Friday night,
and that they both drank heavily.
Johnson LETT Automobile
In a statement made to Sheriff Gar.
rctt, Johnson denied that he was In
the car with Van Noy at the time os
he admitted having been with Van
Noy earlier in the night. but said that
while travelling west on Main street.
Van Noy started driving the machine
In q careless manner. and fearing that
an accident might occur. he LEFT ti,u
car at one OF the street Intersections
officer Tom Adams OF the Ardmote
police force states that he saw but
one man in the car and that II there
was second person In II he must
have been lying on the bottom Of
the car or rolled up IN the seat. Ad-
ANS states that he started after tho
machine but It's speed ou,dlssancc.l
him. and the next thing he heard was
the screams Of the victims as the car
crashed into them.
johnson was arrested at Tho Palace
Continued on Page Fivs)