The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-16
Coroner Monzani Ls
 Holding Benson
tContinued from eage D

rom Page D
 Pearson, 3i2 Homestead avenue; George Robillard, Woicott; Fred Rowe, 43 Earl street; Carolyn Rowland, Mrs Carolyn Rowland and Sherwood Rowland, all of 1l5 Columbia Bouiovard; Edward r. Sweeney, IT, 330 West Main street; George William, Kipgsbury Hotel; |Eleanor Webster, III Randolph avenue; Mrs HAsel Webster, III Randolph avenue.
 Finding of Coroner.
 Coroner Monsani's finding fol- lows:
 On the afternoon of April 10. 1884, at about q quarter of Ave o'clock, John Rowland was as- sisting his mother, some neighbors and other children In rnking up leaves and carrying them into the gutter In front of his house ct li6 Columbia Boulevard, whore they were being burned. The fire was not very large one and the wind, which was blowing from an easter. ly direction at the time, was carry. Ing the smoke away from the street on to the lawn. The Row. land home Is located on the west erly side of Columbia Boulevard, which Is 2 street with roadways on either side between . parkway front of the houses located on the easterly and westerly side, the street at the point where the Row. lands live travelling in Q genarally northerly and southeriy direction and south of Randolph avenue, tho next southerly intergecting street, gradually bearing to the right and down hill to the intersection os Pine street.
 On the afternoon of April 18th Earl Benson, temporarily residing Ut the Kingsbury hotel in Water. bury, but according to his own statement permanently residing at Wassaic, New York, had been call- ing on . friend of his mothers at Melbourne terrace, which is locat. cd northerly of the north end of Columbia boulevard. Benson had been drinking and when he went | to call had brought Q bottle of liquor with him. He had consumed most of the liquor during the after- noon and at about twenty minutes of i've o'clock was in . very much intoxicated condition, 50 much so that he was asked to leave the home he was calling at. This he did, getting into his cars which was parked in front of his mothers friends house, and finally getting 1t started and after numerous at. tempts succeeding in turning 1t around and starting away from Melbourne terrace toward Water. bury. He proceeded up Melbourne terrace to Farmington avenue and down that street to Columbia boule. yard. He travelled along the vest ern side of Columbia boulevard to the intersection of Roseland ave- nue, where he turned right and continued along the latter street to Euclid avenue. He followed that street to Randolph avenue, where he turned left on to Columbia boulevard. He crossed the boule- ward to the easterly side and start ed north, intending to so back to the house he had been visiting, but on reaching Roseland avenue he again turned south, this time on the westerly side of Columbia boulevard.
 He was proceeding along the ! OVuAgNAAu J6ob ~ tAV tAAtO SA9t John Rowland stepped off the curb on the southerly side of the littl,, bonfire burning in the gutter and put some leaves on the fire. After doing this the little boy stood for a moment and while he was in that position Benson came down the street. turned the course of his car into the gutter, through the fire, and struck the little boy, throwing him into the gutter. and then Benson continued on down Columbia boulevard towards Pine street. He was in such condition that his control of the car was ex- ceptionally bad and he ran into the curbing on the westerly side of Co., lumbia boulevard and again on Pine street. and his course as he was observed was zig-zag one. At that time he was keeping his car In the Exchange Garage ct Harrison avenue and he drove into the garage short time later.
 After he brought his car to a stop in the garage his condition of intoxication was such that he had to be helped from the car.
 The injured boy was taken into the house where the services of physicians were called and he wee removed to the Waterbury hospital. where 1t was found that he was suffering from q fracture of the base Of the skull with contusIons and abrasions of the body. He died at the hospital the same day at eight-five D. m. as a result of the injuries sustained.
 find that said death was caused by fracture of the base of the skull ! with contuaIone and abraaions about the body received when de- ceased was struck by the automo. bile operated by Earl 6. Benson and that sai4 death was caused by the eross and criminal negligence of said Earl s. Benson. who in- cidenfaiIy registered his car and his own driving license from 4n addfess in 0reenvich where he dl1 ..t .4H4X@