The New York herald., 1922-11-13
MOTOR KILLS BRIDGE
TRAFFIC POLICEMAN
Hits Him in Back, Sends
Body High in Air and
Speeds Away.
CYCLE PURSUIT FAILS
Witness on Manhattan Span
Says Driver Had Plenty
of Space to Pass.
FIVE OTHERS ARE KILLED
One Victim Had Brother Who
Died i'm Another Crash a
Year Ago.
FIVE OTHERS ARE KILLED


policeman on Manhattan Bridge, were
killed yesterday by automobiles in this
city and nearby towns. The killing OF
the policeman, Charles Hoffman, ac-
cording to witnesses, was the result of
wanton recklessness, and general
alarm was sent out for the driver of
the car.
Patrolrnan Hoffman, who was 43 and
lived with his wife at 1415 Bushwick
avenue, Brooklyn, was standing in the
middle of the main roadway across
Manhattan Bridge about half way be-
tween the Brooklyn tower and the
Brooklyn anchorage. William Il.
Walter of 963 Sixty-seventh street,
Brooklyn, said that at s:45 o'clock, on
his way to Brooklyn in his automobile,
as he was nearing the policeman he
saw small black touring car, either
a Ford or Dodge, coming from the
opposite direction. Patrolman Hoff-
man was facing the Manhattan end
of the bridge.
The automobile. according to Walter,
came up behind the policeman at ter
rifle rate of speed, and. although there
was plenty of room for it to pass, struck
him squarely in the back and threw
him high into the air. He came\ down
on his head and lay still. while the car
that had struck him continued on toward
Manhattan. Walter turned his car
around and started after the fleeing
automobile, but he was too far behind
to keep track of it past the end of the
bridge.
Cycle Pursuit Fails.
Motorcycle Policeman Barry, who was
stationed on the upper roadway of the
bridge. saw the accident as Walter de-
scribed it. He jumped on his motor
cycle and went to the end of the bridge,
hoping to cut off the automobile, but
by the time he had reached the open
Ing Of the main roadway the car had
left the bridge and disappeared.
Hoffman was taken in a mail truck
to the police post at the Brooklyn end
of the bridge. DR.. Mendelsohn of Cum
berland Hospital said death had been
instantaneous Hoffman's neck and
both legs were broken and his clothing
was torn to tatters. He had been on
the police force twelve years and since
last June had been attached to the
Third precinct, which has charge of
directing traffic over the Brooklyn and
Manhattan bridges.
Peter NJ. Nendegrou, aged of 236
Corona avenue. Corona, was struck by
an automobile while crossing Unity
street at Corona avenue. He died before
reaching the Flushing Hospital. The
automobile did not stop and was not
identified.
William Henry Held, %, shoe mer-
chant and member of one of the oldest
families in Cos Cob Conn. was killed
xrna ba M In xrhf b.. nd
two friends were riding overturned on
a sharp curve near the estate of Mrs.
Whitelaw Reid at Purchase. near
White Plains. Held was caught under
the steering wheel. He leaves his wife
His companions, John Hinty and
Frederick w. Booth of Port Chester,
were thrown clear OF the car upon
n pile of sand. Held's brother Garfield
Held. was killed several years ago in AT
automobile accident at Greenwich.
William d. Shelton. so, of 1914 Seventh
avenue was killed when an automobile
came from behind a taxicab he had
lodged and knocked him down at Eighth
avenue and Thirty-seventh street. The
automobile was driven by Joseph Lyttle
OF 55S Tenth avenue, owner of chain
OF groceries, who was arrested.
hoy Uit In Tenth Avenue.
James McGintey. 6. of sos West Fifty
NTH street. was running down a sandpile
into the street at Tenth avenue near
Fifty-ffth street last night when he was
run over by an automobile driven by
Joseph Kicker, 49, OF AT Bergenline
avenue. West Hoboken. The boy died
in Roosevelt Hospital an hour later.
Kicker and eight others who we're in the
car with him said the boy ran in front
OF them and that II was impossible to
avoid hitting him. Kicker was arrested.
Marshall Smith. 45, of III Washing
ton street, Flushing. died in Flushing
Hospital after an accident in Strong
causeway, near the Cedar Grove Gem
etery. He was I'm an automobile driven
by Joseph Lee Of ; Tanning avenue,
Newtown. Queens. when the car struck 81
trolley pole and upset. Miss Lillian
Johnson OF 5S Bradford avenue, Flush
ing. was taken TO the hospital with a
possible fracture OF the skull. and David
Jones Of $40 Sanford street. Flushing.
who also was IN the automobile. was cut
about the face and body.
Two automobiles one driven by
Adolph Well OF 203 Tompkns avenue.
Brooklyn, and the other by Raymond
Jackson. OF Pleasant Plains. staten
Island. collided on Amboy road between
Pleasant Plains and Tottcnvillc Wells
Wife So and a friend. Mrs Barbara
Groethcr. JS also Of 203 Tompkius ave-
nue.. were thrown out OF tho rear and
both badly hurt. They were taken to
the Richmond Memorial Hospital az
Princes Bay. with We'll. who was slightly
injured. Jackson was not hurt.
Patrolman John Reed OF the West
New Brighton station had his right leg
broken when the motorcycle on which
nc was riding hit tho motor car OF
william brennan ~ 1893 Castleton ave-
nue.. West New Brighton. lie was taken
to ST. Vincents Hospital.
Magistrate Cobb IN Traffic Court held
Mike Louis or 456 Bedford avenue
Brooklyn. ia $4,000 for examination
Tuesday on charge Of felonious as
sault Louis was arrested after the coll
llsion of four automobiles at Fifth ave-
roc and Sixticth street. in tho sma shup
Mrs Hannah Mccall. "a, Of 81 sixth
avenue. Wcehawken and her son. Hugh
ii months old. were injured. Both arc
IN Flower Hospital and may not live
The boys skull is fractured and his
mother is injured internally.
Oscar Clot, Is, OF 2433 Valentine ave-
nue.. The Bronx, turned his automobile
70 avoid striking little girl at Albany
Crescent. near Bailey avenue, The
nronx and crashed into a traa