Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-26
DOUBLE SORROW LEAVES
FAMILY ENVEL0PED
IN GRIEF
W|FE'S MOTHER DIES
VICTIM OF TRAGEDY LIVED
TWELVE HOURS FOLLOWING
ACCIDENT WITHOUT REGAIN.
ING OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FUNERAL TOMORROW.

Grim death and tragedy stalked
yuletide Joys into the Fred Wilhelm
home on West Madison street and to-
day the family is grief stricken over
a double sorrow visited upon them
at this time of yuletide fetes. Mr..
Wilhelm. one of the city's best known
merchants, died this morning. Of in
juries received last night when he
was run down and fatally injured by
an auto driven by William Bozeman,
Main street second hand dealer.
Christmas morning Mrs. Kristen
Thorson, mother of Mrs. wilhelm,
died at the daugter's residence. To-
day arrangements are being made for
the double funeral which will be held
tomorrow.
Mr.. Wilhelm's death occurred at
7:45 o'clock today at the city hospi-
tai, whittier he had been rushed af-
ter being knocked to the pavement
unconscious by the Bozeman Ford
touring car. The accident which re-
suited in his fatal injuries occurred
at 7.45 last night at the corner of
Lafayette and Chestnut streets. Mrs.
Thorson's passing occurred yester-
day morning after a long Illness.
The tragedy which took the life Of
Mr.. Wilhelm resulted while Bozeman,
who had been at the Rock Island
station to take a sister to the train,
was returning to his residence on
lSnA
when he arrived at the corner Of
Chestnut and Lafayette streets he
was travelling north on Chestnut. He
slowed up his car and looked each
way before attempting to cross the
street. Then he noticed coming
from the southwest corner of Shah
bona park two men who were cutting
across the street He started to
drive his machine past the intersec-
tion when the two men stepped into
the rays from his lights and stood
stark still. Knowing IL he kept on
straight he would hit the men Boze
man made swing to pass in the rear
of the pedestrians but one man jump
ed back when the Ford was only a
few inches from him. In stepping
back the man who later proved to
be the groceryman, placed himself
directly In the path of the oncoming
machine and before the driver could
bring the car to stop it knocked
nj down and partially passed over
his body.
Bozeman slammed on the brakes
and jumped out of the car to see
what had happened. In few
minutes a crowd congregated and
with the aid of a couple bystanders
he pulled the unconscious man from
under the machine He was examin.
ed by some bystanders who said they
thought he was just stunned but
when IL was apparent that he was un-
conscious he was rushed to the hos
pital. In his statement Bozeman de-
clared he went to the hospital for an
hour and waited to hear the result OF
the accident and last night word was
sent out that there was hopes for Mr..
Wilhelms recovery. When this word
went out Bozeman left the hospital
and went home where he remained
until this morning when he heard Of
Mr. Wilhelm's death he went to Chief
Ford and gave the preceding story Of
the tragedy.
Son Conducts Quiz.
According to Roy Wilhelm, son of
the deceased, and Ottawa attorney,
his father was not with any one he
knew at the time of the accident. He
declares that if there was a friend
with his father they must have met
on the street and were walking to-
pether for a short distance Endeav-
ors to find the man who was with Mr.
Wilhelm have prove fruitless. If nei-
their the man whom Bozeman missed
so closely when he hit Wilhelm and
the woman are found there will be
no living eyewitness to the tragedy
but Bozeman, who was driving the
Ford car.
The dead man had very poor eyes
as the result of a gun powder ex-
piosion which happen about ten years
ago. It Is thought that with his de-
fective sight he did not realize where
he was going and the bright lights
of the car together with this infirm-
ity caused him to step into the path
of the coming car which resulted in
his injury and death
Inquest Held.
The iury returned verdict cF
death due to being hit by an auto
mobile owned and driven bv w c.
Bozeman, the tragedy being declare
accidental. The inquest was conduct
ed by Coroner Tim Donoghue and was