The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-03
School Teacher
 Killed By Car Of
 Accused Autoist
Monzani Finds Driver Was on Wrong Side of Road When Fatality Took Place-Believes He Was Under In- fluence of Liquor When Woman Was Struck

Henry Bendix of Millbrook, N. Y. and Watertown, Conn, was held criminally responsible to-day by Coroner John T. Monzani for the death of Miss Mary Wood, 56, a member of the Waterbury schoo department. The deceased met her death on Watertown avenue on Oc. tober 17th. She was struck and fa- tally injured as she alighted from q trolley car and attempted to cross the street.
 The coroner was obliged to com ment on the fact of whether the ac- cused driver was under the influence of liquor at the time of the accident or whether he imbibed afterwards Bendix claimed that he deosn't re- member whether or not his machine collided with anyone. The accused was driving on the wrong side of the highway, the coroner declares a. the time of the accident.
 The finding of Coroner John Mon- zani is as follows:
 Having been notified on the 17th day of October, A. D., 1880, that Mary Wood, a white female, 5f years of age, lay in imminent dan- ger of death at the Waterbury hos pital as the result of injuries sus- tained in an automobile accident on said date, I held an investigation tc determine the manner and cause Ol said condition. Having been further notified on the 18th day of October A. D. 1890 of the death of the said Mary Wood, and having reason to suspect said death was caused by the criminal act, omission or care lessness of another or others. I con. tinued said investigation and inquest to determine the manner and cause of said death. Said inquest was con- ducted at the town of Waterbury The Following named witnesses were examined:
 Kenenth F. Beckley, Watertown conn; Joseph Bender, Waterbury police department; Henry Bendix Millbrook, N. r.; William c. Dwyer Waterbury police department; Bessie B. Gaines, Meriden, Conn; G, F George, 54 High street; Alfred E Hathaway, 612 Watertown avenue; Alexander Innes. Scott avenue, Wa. tertown; John V. Leary, Waterbury police department; Ida H. Schoon. maker, 612 Watertown avenue; Vic. tor A. Vogelstrom, Watertown; James B. Walker. S1 Cloves terra ce Emma D. Wood, 72O Bunker Hill avenue; Winifred Wood, Willow dale avenue.
 Having considered all the testi- mony taken at the inquest l, on the 3rd day of February, A. D.. 1881 made the following finding concern ing said death:
 On the evening of October 17th 1880. Mary A. Wood, with her sis ter Winifred Wood and her sister in-law Mrs Emma Wood, came into Waterbury for the evening from the north end of the Bunker Hill section so-called. When they started home they boarded a trolley car in the center and rode to Irvington avenue where they would naturally alight 10 go to their homes on WillowdaIe avenue, but at tho time they arrived there, 1t was raining so hard that they did not alight from the trolle, car, but instead, remained on the car and continued on to Oakville at which place the car started back toward Waterbury. They remained on the car and when it reached Irv- ington avenue on its return trip, it had practically stopped raining and they alighted to go to their homes At this point the north and south bound trolley tracks are on the east erly side of Watertown avenue, and in order to go from the trolley to lrvington avenue it was necessary to cross Watertown avenue The three ladies started directly across to Irvington avenue, but when they reached Irvington avenue there was a very considerable pool of water at the intersection, which had run down from the adjoining hill side in the thunderstorm which was just ended. As the three ladies were looking for place to cross the poo of water and were on the westerly side of the highway, an automobile driven by Henry Bendix, travelling towards Waterbury, came along at a moderate rate of speed. Bendix, who was driving on his wrong side of the road, just grazed Miss Winifred Wood and struck Miss Mary Wood and threw her distance of approxi- mately 150 feet and then continued