The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-01
CUT TO DEATH BY A. WINDSHIELD.
 WHEN AUTO WRECKS.
With Throat Cut From Ear to Ear In Crash on Twenty third Street, Howard Patter- son Dies in Five Minutes. HilIman Hotel Manager Is Injured

Howard Blue Patterson, 33, died almost, instantly early yesterday morning when his throat was cut from ear to ear as he was thrown through the windshield of an auto mobile, driven by George R. Benton, manager of the Hillman hotel, when the vehicle crashed into an abutt- ment at the intersection of Avenue A and Twenty-third street, south.
 Patterson died about five minutes after the accident. Benton also sus- tained severe bruises when the auto mobile crashed into the cement wan. He was taken to the Birmingham Baptist hospital in the ambulance of Johns where at a late hour last night he was reported resting well.
 A charge of manslaughter in the second degree is being held against Benton, pending the completion of Coroner J. D. Russum's inquest, which will be competed as soon Rs the second victim of the accident re- wives to sufficient extent to make a statement.
 Absent All Night
 In his investigation held over the body of Patterson at the scene yes- terday morning, Coroner Russum learned that Patterson had not ap- peared at his residence all during Wednesday night and that his family becoming alarmed over his absence, had made inquiries of close friends Of the victim. C. F.. Patterson, brother of the dead man, accompanie l by M. H. Markland, Morris hotel, and Benton. after a search of several hours, located Patterson at Five Points. through the Drive It Yourself company, from whom the dead man had rented an automobile, witnesses said, and the three, accompanied by l.. L. Walker of the Ford company, imm ediately went to Five Points where Patterson had called the com pany, notifying them that the rented Ford had punctured tire.
 ' lSol1 aen.l.s.4e there, Patterson en- tered the car with Bentons wliiie z. D. Patterson. Walker and Markland followed in a Ford car. The wit nesses declared that the car in which Benton and Patterson were ridiag. was going at a fast rate and that they immediately set out to catch them, although the accident came be- fore the Ford overhauled the ill-fated vehicle. which was leading the chase.
 Crashes Into Wall
 The witnesses declared that the wrecked car struck the abuttment as it attempted to turn into Twenty third street. from Avenue A. the car taking a sudden turn to the right and crashing into the wall. The po- sition of the emergency brake indi- cated a desperate effort to avoid the accident, it was said, the brake be- ing pulled back to it's last notch.
 So great was the impact that the car, after striking the wall, was thrown back for approximately 30 feet. The wall was also cracked for about Is feet, beginning from the point where the car struck it. The car was badly wrecked.
 Patterson. who was an employe of the Illinois Central railroad, leaves wife. who was Miss Vivian Bagley, two young children. Bernice Marie, 5. and Minnie Blue. 3; his mother, Mrs Minnie Patterson; three broth CTS, c. E. Patterson, an employe of The Herald; s. E. Patterson. and G. w. Patterson of New York. Funeral arrangements had not been made yesterday, pending the arrival of the brothers from New York.
 MT. Benton has held the position of manager of the Hillman hotel for a period of two years. and has, a host of friends throughout the city. He also has a family, who reside with him in the hotel.