Evening journal., 1922-09-13
LAY Death TO
AUTO DRIVER
Jury Says Collins Careless
ness Caused w. E. Smiths
Death
MURDER, SUICIDE
ALSO DECLARED

Hugh Grant Collins. of South Fiji
tieth street. Philadelphia, was helt
responsible by a jury of inquest
summoned by Coroner Bullock las
night, for the death of william Z
Smith. OF Kirkwood. who was kill.
ed In an automobile accident near
Kirkwood. on September 8. The
jury declared that Collins had oper-
ated his automobile ''recklessly
without due care and caution
Six sudden deaths cases were in
vestigated by the jury last night, and
verdicts of murder, suicide and ac-
cidental death returned. In the case
Of smith number OF witnesses were
heard, and the finding OF the jury
has been handed the Attorney-ge
erals office
Earl Cole, State highway officer, told
OF the Smith collision. According to
Information obtained by him, Smith
was driving south along the high
way and was keeping well on the
right side of the road. driving slow
". A number of cars were ap-
preaching from the south, on the
proper side of the road, he said.
Without warning OF any kind, the
car owned and driven by Collins,
and bearing Pennsylvania license
19S093, which was in back OF one OF
the approaching cars, is said to have
swerved 10 the left side OF the road
in an effort to pass the car ahead.
Smith. II was said, had no time to
avoid collision, and his car was
overturned.
Miss Sarah Shearer. OF Kirlkwood.
a niece of tho dead man. told of OBJ
tanning the license number OF the
Pennsylvania car, and of later Wis
iting her uncle in the hospital. At
that time, she declared, he told her
of the accident, and said that Col
Inns had made no effort to help him
after the accident. Cole told the
jury that Mr.. Smith. Just before his
death. had wanted Collins arrested
for reckless driving, but had died
before a warrant could be sworn
out.
The case OF Elwood McKimm. Ne
gro. and his wife. Ida McKimm, OF
Naamans. who figured in a double
tragedy early Monday morning, was
also taken up by the coroner's jury.
The woman was murdered by her
husband. who slashed her throat
from ear to ear with a razor, and
then used the same weapon upon
himself McKimm took rat poison
about six months ago, and It is be-
lieved that he was insane when he
committed the double killing.
The testimony OF Lieut.. McVey, of
the State Highway Police who an
swered a summons for help, was
given. When he reached the house
he Immediately rushed upstairs,
broke in a door and found the
woman dead upon a bed. and her
husband lying on the floor in a dying
condition. He told OF sending for
DR.. S. Whitlaw Shaw, OF Claymont. /
md OF the efforts 10 save the mans |
life. Jessie McKimm, a daughter OF
he couple. told OF coming home
rom a visit, and, as she entered the
ioor, hearing her mother scream.
looking through a keyhole into the
DOM where the tragedy occurred.
he saw her mother on the bed and
Ter father walking around. James
hughes. Theodore Mcbride, Robert
ihaumake and william Carey
ieighbors, told OF the tragedy.
The jury decided that the woman
lied as a result of injuries received
I the hands Of her husband, and
ne man died as result OF injuries
The death OF George p. Kroeker.
u Camden, N. j.. and Lesham II.
sess. OF Coliingswood, N. j.. who ,
we're killed in an automobile acct
lent. near Kirkwood on September
l. was placed as the result OF in
uries sustained in an unavoidable
lceident. Martin A. McNulty, of
camden, driver OF the car. told OF
he wet condition OF the road. II
lad been raining, he said. and when
he car started skiddlng he lost ALI
control of it. The car struck moth
ng, but upset. Kroeker was taken
o Townsend, where he died. and
Ross died on the way to the Della
ware Hospital.
Howard L. Henderer. IL years
I'D, OF Marshallton. who died Sep
ember 4, was the victim. according
o the jury OF accidental burns. He
vas burned as he tried to renew
he fuel supply Of toy alcohol en-
Inc.