New Britain herald., 1927-08-15
night JOY RIDE
ended BY Death
Driver Killed When Car Hits
South Main Street Pole
STOLE PROSECUTORS CAR
Cleopl,as Loving of 20 Pearl Street
Takes Woods Auto Without Per-
mission and Rides Friends to New

His head crushed between an au-
tomobile and a telegraph pole In
front of 176 South Main street short
ly before 4 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, Cleophas Loving, colored, aged
IS, of 20 Pearl street, was killed. and
five companions who had accom-
panied him on ride to Hartford
and New Haven were injured. The
police theory Is that Loving was
driving at high rate of speed and
lost control OF the car. probably as
he was leaning out in order to see
the road, the windshield having been
clouded by heavy fog. So far as
could be learned, there was no Ii
quor in the car, and Lovings COM
panions professed ignorance OF the
cause of the fatality, all saying they
were asleep at the time of the
crash.
The car was owned by Prosecuting
Attorney Joseph G. Woods and was
damaged beyond repair, it was said
today by mechanics who inspected
it. The body was smashed, the wheels
reduced to small bits and the mech
anism ground into junk, The extent
of the damage supports the theory
that the car was travelling fast when
it struck the pole, and the weight
and sturdiness OF the vehicle proba-
bly, saved the lives Of the other oc-
cupants.
The injured are: Miss Alice Lopes,
aged "a, of 80 dIartford avenue;
Ephner Stokes. aged "a. Of 20 Pearl
street; Miss Isabella Johnson, aged
81, of 405 Hartford avenue: Miss
Marjorie McNeer. 765 Corbin ave-
nue.; Carl Tanner OF so Chestnut
street, all of whom are colored. MISS
Lopes and Mr.. Stokes are at New
Britain General hospital for obser-
walton. Miss McNeer's left arm was
badly bruised and she complained OF
injuries about the body. Miss john
son was injured about the left leg
and right arm and body. while Tan
ner's left ankle was sprained. Stokes
suffered three broken ribs and Miss
Lopes escaped with decorations and
bruises about the body.
The car was taken from the New
Britain Window Cleaning and Auto
Laundry at 1877 Arch street, after
s o'clock Saturday evening, by Low
Ing, without permission OF Mr..
Woods or Jacob Wrinkle. one OF the
owners of the company. Mr.. Woods
purchased the car a few days ago,
and on Saturday telephoned to the
laundry to have an employe go to
Hartford for it, his intention hav-
ing been to have the car washed
preparatory to having it painted
today. Loving, who, according to
Mr.. Wrinkle, formerly was employed
at the laundry. went to Hartford IN
his own car and drove Mr.. Woods
car while a friend drove Lovings
machine. Mr.. Wrinkle said he had
giving Loving permission to wash
his own car at the laundry.
After driving in Mr.. Woods car
Loving telephoned the owner and
Mr.. Wrinkle, overhearing the con-
versatlon, also spoke to Mr.. Woods.
who ordered the car washed and
kept at the laundry until today. Mr..
Wrinkle left the laundry about s
o'clock and at that time Mr.. Woods
car was there. 1t is presumed that
Loving, knowing the car would not
be wanted until today, returned to
the laundry and took the car, for
about 1890 o'clock he drove up to
a restaurant on Pearl street and
asked his friends to take a ride.
He had previously driven to the
home OF Miss Lopes and she read
lily accepted his invitation to ride.
although she had retired. She told
police Loving waited while she
dressed to go out.
On Ride to New Haven
At 4:06 o'clock Sergeant John G.
Stadler. on duty at police head
Do