Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-20
OFFICER HOLDS HE AND FRIEND
MADE COATS IN TRAFFIC MISF1AP
Col. George Williams Asserts
Miss Smiths Car Did Not
Strike Woman.
Is Seeking Witnesses to Tes'
tify That Machine Stopped
15,F Feet From Victim.

Declaring that he and Miss Margaret
NJ. Smith of Riverdale, Md, have been
made the goats" for performing an
"act of humanity" Col. George VIII
liarns, war hero and member of the War
Department general staff, today as
serted that an automobile other than
the one in which he and Miss Smith
jured Mrs. Elizabeth w. Williams, 49,
in front Of her home at 2706 Bladens-
burg road last night.
Col. Williams stated he Is seeking
witnesses who will testify that the car
driven by Miss Smith, 30-year-old clerk
in the Bureau of Foreign and Domes-
| tic Commerce. was stopped IS or 20
feet away from the PROSTATE form of
Mrs. Williams.
Williams Says Car Stopped.
Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn of 1928 Bladens-
burg road, was less seriously injured aEC
also was lying in the road near Mrs.
Williams, when Miss Smiths automo-'
bile approached and stopped, according
Office in the War Department today.
Miss Smith was arrested by police
who appeared at the scene and were
told that she had been driving the car
which knocked down the women. She
was taken to the house of detention, but
was released later in the custody of her
attorney, Col. Ashby Williams.
Investigation" Is recorded opposite
her name on the police records at the
twelfth precinct, where 1t was said fur
ther action would await the outcome cf
Mrs. Williams injuries.
Sought to Take Blame.
After the arrival of the police, Col.
Williams took the wheel of Miss Smiths
car and drove it to the twelfth precinct @
station, where he announced that he
had been operating the automobile
when the injured women were sighted
on the road ahead" Col. Williams eX-
planned today he sought merely "to
relieve Miss Smith of any embarrass-
ment," when 1t became apparent the
police believed her car was to blame for
the accident.
Miss Smith promptly told the police
that had not spoken the truth" the
officer stated, land she convinced them
she had been the actual operator. In
telling the police what I did I consid-
cred that was doing what any gentle
man would do under the circumstances"
Spied Forms in Road.
"This is what one gets for doing the
humane thing" Col. Williams lamented.
It will swear before God that our car
did not hit any one. We we're driving
north on Bladensburg road when we
suddenly spied the forms in the road
ahead Two other cars had passed the
spot just ahead of Us, and I think 1t
must have been one of those machines
that hit them. They did not stop.
When Miss Smith halted the car,
the two women were sprawled on the
l.s- - azA
There were witnesses Who know that
to be fact, and when I saw chat some
of the members of the crowd that gath
cred were inclined to hold us respon-
sible, I called to the attention of one
man the position Of our car with re-
spect to the bodies. failed to get his
name because had no idea then the
police would pianlc us for The accident.
Suspicion was directed at Miss Smith
and myself after young man had run
out from house and yelled Historically
to me that the injured woman was his
mother. Others came running up and
became possessed Of the idea that our
car had hit the woman. The temper
of the crowd was such that I saw 1t
would do no good to argue the matter
there, and decided to await the arrival
of the police.
Instead of seeking the real culprits
however. they took us to the station
house as though we were the guilty
ones. I don't much blame them for
doing that. however, in view Of the at
titude of the crowd at the scene. The
police were quite courteous"
Wife Killed in Accident.
Col. Williams wife was killed some
time ago on the Washington-Richmo
highway under circumstances some
what similar to those involved in the
accident last night. She was crossing
the highway on foot, in company with
her young son, and was struck by an
automobile and fatally injured. The
son recovered from his injuries.
Police who investigated the accident
on Bladensburg road declared that the
headlight on Miss Smiths car was bent
out of position. They are continuing
their inquiries.
Col williams has a notable war rec
ord. He was awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross for gallantry in action
while in command of the 316th Infan-
try, 10th Division, in France. The cita-
ton states that he exercised brilliant
leadershipof his regiment, especially in
the assault and capture Of Bourne du
Cornouiller, November to 6, 1918.
Mrs. Williams, victim of the mysteri-
Gus accident last night, may not survive
the serious Injuries she received.
she was taken, say she has several
skull and probable internal injuries.
Mrs. Dunn was given first aid treatment
at her home.