The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-08-16

Sherlu at Racine anu 10 OHeIiA oooe
of Kenosha that he was the driver of
the truck. He has had a hard time
trying to explain why he ran away at
ter the accident.
81 don't know why l ran away" he
told Sheriff Pabst. ~ got hit in the
head and must have been dazed: Then
when | came to and found out what
had happened l was afraid to go back
and own up to being the driver OF
the truck. l knew sometime would be
caught but / couldn't make myself go
back"
He is most penitent and time and
again both at his cell in the Racine
county jail where he was incarcerated
on Sunday and in his cell here this af-
ternoon has bewailed the fact that he
did not stay and aid the victim of the
accident
Took Truck without Permission.
Immediately after the accident, the
sheriffs' forces of the two counties be-
gan a search for the driver of the
truck. E. G. Russell, Kenosha road
contractor to whom the truck belonged,
aided them in the search. The truck
had been at the construction camp
near Union Grove and strict orders
had been given that it should not be
used even by employees of the con-
struction camp.
Rodgers had previously been employ
ed by Russell and had driven the
truck. For this reason the contractor
L. Aair h ~
permission and was the driver of the
car when the accident occurred. Aid
ed by this clew the officials finally To-
Gated Rodgers and facing him with the
evidence gained a confession that ne
was the driver of the car.
Found in Shed Saturday.
After leaving the scene of the acct
dent, Rodgers says that he wandered
several miles and finally spent the
night in a shed near his old home in
Racine county. Saturday afternoon he
was located in a shed near Ives Cor
ners where he had gone to secure some
repairs on an automobile of his own.
He went quietly with the Racine
sheriff and after questioning told him
his account of the accident just as he
told Sheriff Pabst this morning. When
warrant charging him with man
slaughter was sworn out in Kenosha
county, Rodgers was turned over to
officials here to be brought back to
face the charge. He had been held in
Racine on a charge of taking car
without the permission of the owner
Gives Version of Accident.
Rodgers told the sheriff that he had
taken the truck in order to move his
household goods TO farm west of
the Kilbcurn road, where he had se-
cured employment. He was return
ing it to the construction camp when
the accident occurred.
Several miles before the accident
occurred Rodgers, according to his
story, had picked up young lad
from Yorkville, whose name he doesn't
know and who he agreed to take to
his home. This lad also disappeared
Immediately after the accident and
has not been found,
Probably No Lights.
So do not know whether there were
lights on the truck or not" Rodgers
told the sheriff. II gave the boy
some matches and told him to light
the oil lamps but l don't remember
looking to see whether 1t was DONE.
There were no lights burning on
the truck when it was found just af-
ter the accident.
81 never saw the motorcycle until
heard the crash" he told Sheriff
Pabst, II was going north and the
motorcycle struck my left front wheel
hurting me around and into the ditch
did not know how bad the motorcy-
| Gle driver was hurt, ! wandered away
because was dazed and afraid"
Rodgers admitted to Sheriff Pabst
that early Friday afternoon he had
| had two drinks but declared most en-
phatically that these could not have
caused the accident In any way. Rodg-
ers has a wife and several children.
Coroner Truman T. Parker also
went to Racine this morning and tool
up a formal investigation of the acct.
dent, Several who reached the scene
of the crash shortly afterwards will
be summoned to the inquest, 1t il
stated that some witnesses have
been found who declare that they
know that young Jensen had the light
on his motorcycle burning Friday
evening,
1t was stated that Rodgers was fac
ing charge of taking an automobile
without permission in Racine county
and either a manslaughter charge oil
one of failing to aid the injured il
Kenesha county, anyone of which ma!
be punished by prison sentence,
Lads Remains at Racine,
Young Jensen suffered double frac
lures of both of his legs and severa
scalp wounds, He died Sunday morn
ing at the ST. Mary's hospital in Ra
cine from the shock of the injuries
His remains now in Racine will prob
ably be brought to Kenosha to b,
viewed by the coroner's jury and thel
later taken to the home on the Kill
bourn road.
The victim was widely known il
the neighborhood in which he livet
and his sudden death has cast
shadow over the entire countryside.