The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-12-28
c. VANDERBILT SEES HIS
FRIEND KILLED BY AUTO
John w. BrOdix Struck by Hit
and-Run Driver Near GOrmania
Last Saturday Evening
TWO ARRESTS ARE MADE

which failed to stop, John w. Brodix,
81, of Mt. Holly, N. j., was killed
about one-half mile east of Gormania,
on route so, Saturday night returning
from California with his close friend,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., the publish
er. The accident occurred just across
the West Virginia border.
Was Talking To Vanderbilt
The speeding car struck Brodix as
he stopped his own automobile and
walked toward Vanderbilt's car which
had halted on the mountainside to
wait for Brodix. Brodix's body was
dragged more than 800 feet, his cloth
ing was torn away, and his body
mangled. The driver fled.
Vanderbilt then drove to Oakland
to notify friends by telephone and he
returned to the scene of the accident
with Sheriff Walter H. Haenftling and
Deputy Clarence Spear, who assisted
in the search for the hit-and-run
driver.
Brodix was a brother-in-law of
Louis Merryman, the national milk
administrator. He and Vanderbilt
left California about December II, to
drive to their homes to spend Christ
mas. They travelled in separate cars.
Brodix was enroute to Sparks, Md, to
spend the holidays with his brother
in-law and sister, and Vanderbilt
planned to spend Sunday in Washing
ton, going to New York for Christmas.
Thomas Brodix, brother, and Mr..
Merryman arrived in Oakland after
midnight and had the body brought to
the Bolden funeral parlor where it
was prepared for burial and shipped
to Mt. Holly, where services were held.
Mr.. Merryman stated that the hit
and-run driver rounded a curve at a
high rate of speed and was on the
wrong side of the road when he struck
his brother-in-law. The car then
struck Brodix's automobile but con-
tinued westward, apparently little
damaged.
Two Are Held by Authorities
In less than twenty-four hours after
the accident Fritz Anthony, Jr., of
Bayard, W. Va, was taken into
custody and lodged in the Grant coun-
ty Jail.
Before Magistrate j. L. Boor Tues
day Anthony waived a hearing and
was held without bond for the April
grand jury. Anthony made no state
ment and no evidence was given in his
case.
Merlin Evans, also of Bayard, who
testified before Boor he believed it was
Anthony's car that struck BrodiX, was
held in $4,000 bond and ,remended tc
Jail in default.
Evans testified before Boor thai
Anthony, returning from Cumber
land Saturday stopped in Keyser anc
picked up Mr.. and Mrs. Evans anc
their small child. Somewhere neal
the Maryland-W Virginia line
Evans testified, Anthony's car strucl
something. Evans said he did MOI
know much about it for he was light
ing cigaret. The child was hurt ant
a few hundred feet down the roao
Anthony stopped the car, walked bacl
some distance and then returned, Ev
ans said.
He testified Anthony then drov'
away. Officers said bloodstains wer'
found on the Anthony car. The doc
was dented and a window broken.
Before continuing to Washington
on Monday, Vanderbilt had told tn
coroner's jury the incidents leading
up to the tragedy. Vanderbilt's testi
mony was supported by former Sher
if J. A. Kimmell, of Bayard. Bot
men testified Brodix's body was hi
so hard that one of the dead man
shoes was knocked rs feet from tn
body. M. Aronhalt, Jr., Gormania
acted as coroner.
Senator M. M. Nicely, of Fairmont
W. Va, received a call from the Whit