Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-26
DEATH CAR DRIVER
INDY|NG CONDITION
IN HOSPITAL HERE
Charles Kenneth Francis Not
Expected to Recover
After Collapse.
WAS ON WAY TO CAPITAL
FOR TRAGEDY INQUEST
Toll Of Accidents Brings Plan to,
Enlarge Squad of Traffic
Police.

Charles Kenneth Francis, 1905 Eight
eenth street, driver of the automobile
in which Mrs. Alice K. Henderson, wife
of an automobile salesman, was injured
fatally Monday night, is in dying
condition at Sibley Hospital, it was re-
vealed today at coroner's inquest, at
which 1t was testified that the taxicab
involved in the fatal crash had been
racing another taxi just prior to the
tragedy,
Francis presence in the hospital was
disclosed by Capt Fred Cornwell of
No. precinct. While police were
sending lookout" for Mrs. Hender-
sons companion yesterday he wired
police headquarters he would come here
from Philadelphia for today's hearing.
Boarding train yesterday evening,
he collapsed from his injuries, at first
thought not to be serious. and was re-
moved to the hospital on his arrival
at Union Station.
In Coma at Hospital.
He has been in coma at the hos
pital since his arrival there. it was said
and no hope is held out for his recovery.
He was given emergency treatment for
cuts on the head and other injuries
when brought to Emergency Hospital
after the accident, but his condition
then was such he was permitted to leave
the institution.
Norman S. CLARK. 20 years old, of
Ballston, Va, was driver of the taxi
which figured in the crash.
Clarence r. Shaffer, fish dealer at
11l7 Water street southwest, testified
that just few seconds before the
collision a cab driven by Clark was
racing down the street with another
taxicab
Shaffer said that when the two taxis
had passed his place of business, which
Is only few doors from the corner
where the accident occurred, the ma
chimes appeared to be going at high
rate of speed
The inquest was. adjourned indefi-
nitely pending the outcome of Francis
injuries and to allow an effort to be
made to locate the driver of the other
taxicab said to have been involved. !.
Clark meanwhile was given his free
dom in the custody eof his attorney,
James A. O,Shea
FiH Enlarge Squad.
The motor cycle squad of the Traffic
Bureau win be augmented with mounted
officers recruited from the various police
precincts to tighten enforcement of the
trafic regulations in an effort to check
the steadily mounting series of traffic
accidents, it was disclosed today by Mai
Henry G. Pratt, superintendent of
police
The plan of Maj. Pratt came as
prelude to conference which Traffic
Director William H. Harland had in
tended to hold with him today to dis
cuss the traffic situation and possible
remedies for the ever growing list of
accidents, nearly a dozen having been
recorded in the past "a hours
How many motor cycle officers viii
be drawn from the precincts and put
under command of Inspector E. w.
Brown in charge of the Traffic Bureau
for the special safety drive Maj. Pratt
said he was unable to announce until a
survey is made to determine the num-
ber available for such an assignment.
While the precinct motor cycle squads
devote major portion of their time
to the quest of speeding and reckless
drivers and other traffic violators, Mai.
Pratt feels that with their concentration
at the Traffic Bureau, under the direction
of Inspector Brown, Who is familiar
with the bad traffic spots throughout
the District, more effective results may
be accomplished
The additional motor cycle officers
are expected to be assigned to the
Traffic Bureau before the close of the
week. and after July l Maj. Pratt has
planned to increase permanently the
Traffic Bureau personnel by replacing
the motor cycle men in the outlying
precincts with automobile patrols and
detailing the motor cycle officers to the
pendent on the purchase of motor
equipment. funds for which do not be-
come available until July !.
Nnyv TIga II Men
Fourteen motor cycle men now con-
stitute the Traffic Bureaus flying
squadron" which roam the entire Dis
trict: but not more than S are,
on duty at time, since the officers
work in eight-hour shifts. When the
automobiles are purchased for the out
lying precincts. however, the Traffic
Bureau personnel will be increased by
about IS motor cycle officers.
The present Traffic Bureau force is
assigned particularly on the boulevard
and arterial highways, but occasionally
the officers are detailed to certain sec
tions as result of complaints of speed
ing and reckless driving. In the last
few days these officers have been patrol
ing Connecticut avenue between Cleve-
land Park and Chevy Chase Circle and
Kentucky avenue southeast. One off,
Ger also has been covering Thirteenth
street in the congested business Sec
ton because OF complaints that mo-
torists were disregarding the traffic
lights and blocking cross walks.
7 could use big force of motor
cycle men to decided advantage
said Inspector Brown. THE majority
of them ! would detail out of the
congested area. since most Of the speed
ing is done there. 1t seems that after
motorist passes through the con-
gested section he attempts to make
up lost time and forgets the speed
regulations
Although disappointed at being un-
able to confer with Maj. Pratt today,
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