The Owosso times., 1922-07-21
-LEMUEL COOPER
MEETS DEATH
Interurban Hits Auto at
Dead Mans Crossing"
South of Town-Old
Resident of County

Lemuel G. Cooper, 70, a retired farm
or. living at 643 North Washington
street, was instantly killed Monday
afternoon at o'clock, when north
bound interurban car struck his auto
mobile at the town line or dead Mans
Crossing" south of Owosso. The acci-
dent occurred while Mr. Cooper was
going from his own farm, about three.
quarters of mile west Of the crossing,
to the farm of his brother, Charles
Cooper, about a mile east of the crossing.
The crossing is particularly danger
ous, both the road and the car track
passing through intercepting cuts, max
ing it nearly impossible to see down the
track either way until one is almost on
the track.
Looked at Car
Mr.. Cooper, driving alone, was going
east. Bert DuHea, motorman Of the
car. says he blew his whistle and saw
Mr.. Cooper look at the car.
He kept on coming and kept-looking
straight at me- declared the motor.
man. Il thought he would stop, but he
didn't and was still looking at me when
the crash came"
The car hit the automobile on the
right front side. turned it completely
around and hurled 1t against the pole,
which holds up the warning bell and
light, swapping it off like match. The
machine was turned over, and when
William Cline, county road commits
sioner, and La Sale Grove, who we're a
few rods away heard the crash, reached
the scene, they found MIR. Cooper s
body under the auto. The interurban
car had continued up the track several
lengths and the two men reached the
scene before the crew got back. They
were unable to reach the body, how
ever, as the auto was lying against a
wire connected with the deadly third
rail. =. ,,-.. .-
f''' --- Killed Instantly
off on the third rail and Mr.. Cooper's
body was taken out.
Physicians were summoned, but thu y
declared that Mr.. [ o per had been
killed instantly. His skull was fract-
ured, his neck and nearly every bone in
his body was broken.
Justice r. 8. Day was called and de-
cided that no irquest was necessary
Life Long Resident
Mr.. Cooper was life long resident
of Shiawassee county. He was born in
Bennington township on August 8.
1s43, and lived in that township until
about eight years ago when he moved
to Owosso Mrs. Cooper, who was Miss
Sarah Beers, prior to her marriage, died
four years ago. Surviving are three
children, Frank Cooper, professor at
Yale University, who is now home for
the summer; Miss Grace Cooper living
at home, and Mrs. Earl Adams OF Plain
we'll. He also leaves the following
brothers and sisters, Mrs. P. B. Rey-
nolds. Maple River; Mrs. c. 8. Watson,
Owosso; Mrs. BiDa Lewis, Owoeso
township; Charles Cooper, Maple River,
and William Cooper, of Ow0sso town
ship.
Mr.. Cooper's son, Frank, had been
in the custom of accompanying his
father on his daily trips to the farm,
but Monday, because of work at home,
he did not 60 He believes that had he
gone with his father, the accident would
not have occurred.
Mondays accident was the third trsg
edy to occur on this crossing since the
interurban road was built few years
ago.
The remains were removed to the
funeral parlors of jennings & Son
Funeral services were held from Mr.
Cooper's late home on North Washing
ton street at 2 o'clock yesterday after
noon,