Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-24
TRAIN KILLS WOMAN
SITTING IN AUTO
Mrs. Florence AmeS Shinn'S
Car Struck at Railroad
Crossing.
Ry a star CORRESPONDENT Of The star.

BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
; WOODSIDE, Md. February "a
While awaiting help in removing a
stalled automobile in which she had
been riding, Mrs. Florence Ames Shinn,
SIS years of age, 200 Shepherd street,
Chevy Chase, Md, was instantly killed
early yesterday when the machine was
struck by Baltimore g. Ohio train
at the Fenwick lane grade crossing
here. T. C. Stockdale of Clarendon.
Va, had been driving the car, and had
gone to a nearby house to summon
help. The body was removed to Pumph-
rey's undertaking establishment, IN
Rockville, pending investigation.
Inquest Unnecessary.
States Attorney Robert Peter, jr.,
after listening to the report of the
investigation given by Montgomery
County Policeman Charles T. Barnes
OF the northern district precinct de-
cided that 1t was an unavoidable
accident, and deemed an inquest I'M
necessary.
The body Of Mrs. Shinn, according
to the police investigation, was found
1873 feet from the point where the car
had been resting, and the wreckage of
the car was carried for distance of
400 feet having been dragged along
on the front of the engine, tearing up
railroad ties as 1t went, until the train
was brought to a standstill. A heavy
fog hung over the section early Sum-
day morning. The train, a deadhead
was making only 35 miles an hour, as
this section of track is a Slow-speed
area owing to the construction of the
new viaduct to carry the eaSt-west
highway under the railroad tracks. The
train was in charge of Conductor L. j.
Body, 1902 North Decker street, Bal
timore, Md. and the engineer was A..
l.. Waltz, 1915 Covington street, Balti-
more, according to the police.
Met at Friends Home.
Stockdale, the police said he informed
them, left an apartment in the 4400
block of Fourteenth street shortly after
midnight to go to Chevy Chase to take
Mrs. Shinn home. He said he met her
at his friends house. He proceeded out
Georgia avenue and became lost. Upon
reaching Silver Spring he asked q filing
station employee how to get to Chevy
Chase, and the latter directed him to q
road some distance up, but he turned
into Fenwick lane, short distance
from the station, believing that was the
direction given. He crossed the railroad
tracks at Fenwick lane, which is q pri-
vate crossing, the road leading to an
estate the entrance to which is on the
west side of the railroad right of way.
When he got into the yard of the home,
he said, he found 1t was blind road.
Turning around he retraced his way,
and in the heavy fog got of the road
where 1t crosses the tracks. The cross
Ing is Just wide enough for one vehicle.
The right wheels went down alongside
the outer rail and the drive shaft rest
ed on the rail. After trying to extricate
the car himself, he told the police, and
realizing that It was futile, as he could
not get traction, he decided to summon
help, telling Mrs. Shinn, he said, to STAY
out. Of the car. He went to a nearby
residence and awakened William Hol-
mead. on Fenwick lane, and the latter
dressed and got his automobile and
went to the crossing. just as they ar
rived the train was passing.
Sergt Guy Jones, in charge Of the
northern district police station, took
charge at the scene of the wreck, and
conducted an investigation together
with Corpl D. l.. Snyder and Patrolman
Barnes. 1t was the opinion of the
police that after Stockdale left the
scene to summon aid, that Mrs. Shinn
sat down to rest on the right running
board Of the car, which was on the
opposite side from which the train
CdHlS Oil TIC SOuIu-DOuuu ITdCk. her
body was badly mangled. She was
pronounced dead by DR.. @. A. Scully of
Silver Spring.
Mrs. Shinn, who formerly lived in
Washington and only recently moved
TO Chevy Chase. was widow, according
to son, Clark r. Shinn, Of Chevy
Chase, who, together with Ralph A.
Shinn, another son, survive her. The
latter is a travelling salesman for a
Baltimore firm, and is in North Caro-
lima.