The Indianapolis times., 1928-08-27
OPERATOR OF
SKYROCKET is
HELD IN DEATH
Wasson Company EmpIoye
Killed, IA Others Injured
in Tragedy.
HEARING ON WEDNESDAY
Coroner Charges NegIi-
genCe Caused Cars to
Go Through WALL.

Possibility of a Marion County
grand jury investigation of the Sky
rocket tragedy at Riverside Park
Saturday night, in which one girl
was killed and twenty other young
people were injured, appeared today.
Tellus D. Lee, assistant building
commissioner, prepared a. report on
an inspection of the mechanical
equipment of the rocket for Fred
w. Connell, president of the safety
board. The building department re-
port probably would fix the blame
for the tragedy on the operator who
failed to apply brakes, causing the
crash, 1t was indicated.
The grand jury would have iuris-
dictton If the operators were Grim
inally negligent.
Separate investigations of the
tragedy were conducted today by
Coroner Charles H. Keever and
William F. Hurd, city building COM
missioner.
Miss Nellie White, 18, Mars Hill,
died at city hospital following the
accident and twenty other employees
of the H. P. Wasson & Co., depart
ment store were injured.
Members of the Wasson Junior
force decided to take "last ride"
before they left the grounds Satur-
day. Brakes on the ride failed to
stop the train at the loading plat
form, causing the train to plunge
through the wall of a wooden tun-
mel, police say.
Four Still in Hospital
The Wasson employees had held
picnic at the park. All except
four of those injured had been
taken to their homes today. Those
in the hospital:
Miss Hazel Hall, Is, of 1910 N.
Pershing Ave-, internal injuries,
broken nose and cuts, condition i'm
proved.
Joseph Johnson, 10. of l143 S.
State ST., broken leg and severe
decorations, condition good.
Miss Rosalie Bastin, 18, of sci
E. North St., cuts over the eyes, con-
dition improved.
Miss Audrey Pedigo, 16, of 1912
Wade ST., cuts and bruises, condi-
ton good.
Others who received minor in
juries:
George Neely, 16, of 1342 Wade
ST.; Walter Hornaday, II, of 1881
Holt Rd.; Cornelius Baxter, 20, of
$40 N. Illinois ST.; Miss Louise
Flora, IS, of 942 N. fremont Ave;
Miss Dorothy Whitaker, II, of 2601
Pearl ST.; Miss Myrtle Bush, 20, of
1906 w. Minnesota ST.; Miss Helen
Wickliff, 10, of 1846 Orange ST.;
Miss Henrietta wilmer, 18, of 1859
Roosevelt Ave; Miss Mayme West,
10, of 329 Orange ST., and Miss
Ruth orr, 19, of 2710 Napoleon ST.
Continue Managers Case
The case of Jerry Jones, SO, of BIS
Northwestern Ave, manager Of the
Rose, Milwaukee, was to be con-
tinued in municipal court today on
recommendation of the coroner.
Jones is charged with manslaughter
and was released on $4,000 bond.
Police Lieutenant Fred Drinkut
reported Jones sent Joe GusSler, AZ,
of GIT w. Tenty Eighth st., whose
duty it is to operate the first brake,
to look for lost pocketbook.
Jones saw the Inflated train ap-
preaching and ran to set the first
brake, but had time to put on only
the second brake, which failed to
4xafx1 ~ kI1n 1nodfY4d fN1of-
form, the report stated.
The second brake is smaller than
the first brake which is intended to
check momentum of the train, the
second break bringing it to ~ halt.
Coroner Keever said Jones will
have opportunity to relate incidents
in connection with the tragedy
Wednesday at a hearing. It will re-
uuire two weeks for the coroner to
hear all witnesses and make for
NAL report.
Coroner Keever said preliminary
investigation shows the accident was
due to gross negligence of the man
ager of the amusement after inspec-
ton of the rocket.
Keever and Hurd conducted tests
Sunday, loading the train with
$500 pounds of sand. He said the
mechanism of the train is in good
condition and that the brakes we're
in working order.
Reopen Device Tuesday
Archie w. Golfer, Riverside man.
ager, said the device will be re-
opened Tuesday. First aid was ad-
ministered by the park employees be-
fore hospital ambulances arrived.
John R. Miller and G. r. Rose,
owners of the amusement, arrived
here today to aid in the investiga-
ton.
Frank White, Paoli, father of the
girl who was killed, removed the
body of his daughter to her former
home. She had lived with her sis
ter, Mrs. Elmer Ladd, 2021 Second
Ave-, Mars Fill. She was Paoli
High School graduate, coming to In
dianapolis eight months ago. She
was in charge of the Wasson mes
senger service.