Palisadian., 1923-10-05
]. J. C0HN KILLED BY AUTO DRIVEN
by HARRY BONT0N, JR. ON WE'D. NIGHT;
YOUNG MAN had NO DRIVERS LICENSE
Had Taken Grandmother to Call Her Son; Tried to
Avert Accident; Victim Dies on Way to Hospital;
Entire Community Shocked and Grieved.

]. j. Cohn, an old and beloved resi-
dent of Grantwoo', was struck by an
auto driven by marry Bcuton, Jr., also
of Grantweod, and killed at o'clock
last Wednesday night.
Mr.. Cohn was crossing the roat at
the intersection of Grant and Pali-
sade avenues, on his way home, when
the accident happened.
Young Bouton, earlier in the
evening, although he had no drivers
license, took a chance and drove his
grandmother up to see her son, B.
Conroy, of Dearborn road, Palisade.
According to a statement made by
him to the police, he saw Mr. Cohn
crossing Palfsade avenue at Grant
avenue when his car was but twenty
feet away. He was going between
twenty and twenty-five miles an hour
at the time. He blew his horn and
at the same time turned sharply to
the left in an effort to avoid striking
the old gentleman. Mr.. Cohn at the
sound Of the horn attempted to hasten
out of the cars path, but was struck
and his body dragged a short dis
tance. The machine was we'll up on
the sidewalk when it finally stopped
Three men who came to the scene
of the accident from the immediate
neighborhood helped young Bouton to
lift the body of the victim into the
car. Bouton's grandmother went to
\
men at the wheel Mr. Cohn was has
tened to the Englewood Hospital,
where he was pronounced dead upon
arrival. Both legs We're broken and
his skull was fractured He died in
the car en- route to the hospital, in all
probability about ten minutes after
the accident occurred. Mrs. Bouton,
the boys mother, was taken to the
Englewood Hospital by Mr.. F. Leuly
of Palisade, who happened along in
his car shortly after the fatality.
Upon returning to Cliffside Park
the Bouton boy gave himself up to
the police, and it was then discov-
cred he had no drivers license and
was driving without the permission
of his father, who was in Connecticut
on business. He was charged with
manslaughter and released under
$1,000 bail, furnished by B. Conroy,
his uncle. Bail was raised by Judge
Kenny on Wednesday to $500.
Harry Bouton, Jr., is sixteen years
of age and lives with his parents on
the corner of Columbia and Palisade
avenues, in Grantwood The family
have lived in Grantwood for the past
five years, and his mother is sister
Mr. B. Conroy. The boy is terribly
grieved over his unhappy position.
Mr. Cohn was widely known in the
borough and in the past had taken an
active part in the life of the COM
munity He was born in Prague, Bo-
hemia, but came to America when but
fourteen years of age, and has been a
citizen for fifty years and a resident
of Grantwood for about twenty years.
He was one of the pioneer leather
manufacturers in this country, hav-
ing a place of business on Maiden
lane, New York City.
Leaving the leather industry, he
entered the jewelry trade with Lewis
Selznik, now a we'll known motion
picture producer. The concern was
located at Sixth avenue and Sixteenth
street The interior was a replica OF
the Opera House in Paris. Next Mr..
Cohn went into the automobile busi-
ness, in which enterprise he contin-
ued until the World War His place
of business was at 1915 Warren
street, New York.
Mr.. Cohn was member OF the
Edward Everett Lodge in New York.
He was a director in the Cliffs'de
Park National Bank and was deeply
interested in local politics, being a
former councilman and until a year
ago poormaster of Cliffs'de Park. Mr..
Cohn led a fine and useful life, and
the entire community bows in sorrow
at his passing.