Evening star., 1938-11-08
Agriculture
Official Hurt
In Auto Mishap
Jordine in Hospital;
Is Reported in
Fair Condition

James T. Jardine, director of re-
search and chief of the Office of ex-
pertinent stations of the Agriculture
Department, was reported in "fair"
condition today at Emergency Hos
pltal, where he was being treated for
injuries received when struck by an
automobile last night.
Physicians planned X-ray exam
nations today to determine the full
extent of his injuries. He was be-
l1eved to have suffered conclusion of
the brain and possibly internal in
juries.
Mr.. Jardine, Sc, of 4334 P street
NV, was struck at Constitution ave-
nue. and Fourteenth street NV. by a
car which police said was driven by
Mary M. Trone, 81, of 6712 Forty
fifth place, Chevy Chase, Md. No
charges were placed against her.
A brother of William M. Jardine,
who was Secretary of Agriculture
from 1925 to 1929, Mr.. Jardine has
had a varied career in the Agricul-
ture Department since 1907 when he
became a special agent in the Forest
Service. He was made chief of the
office of experiment stations in 1881,
and the larger responsibility of di-
rector of research was added to his
duties in 1886. He is a native of
Idaho.
Driver Held in Fatality.
Meanwhile, police held Leroy
Hamilton, 80, colored, 100 block of
S street NV, for action of a cor
oner's jury in the traffic death yes
terday of John P. Smith, 70, of 2616
P street NV, said to have been
struck by car driven by Hamilton
Saturday afternoon.
Police said Hamilton was charged
with reckless driving shortly after
the accident, under the name of
Hillard A. Jones, %. colored, also
of the 1700 block of S street NV,
and that he was using a drivers per-
NIT issued to Mr.. Jones, who had
nothing to do with the accident.
The drivers true identity came to
light after Mr.. Smiths death, De-
tectives quoted him as saying his
permit had been suspended and he
| had been using Mr. Jones while the
latter was out of town
A coroner's jury yesterday ordered
Russell D. Riley, 30, a sailor attached
to the Naval Research Laboratory,
held for Police Court action under
the Negligent Homicide Act in con-
nection with the traffic death last
Saturday of Abraham Ellis, SIS, of
1854 Second street SW.
Auto Skidded A Feet.
Mr.. Ellis, barbecue stand pro-
prletor, was killed almost instantly
when a car in which he was riding
with Pvt. Riley and two girls over
turned on Naylor road Sc. near the
District line, after it skidded off the
road and struck a telephone pole.
| Sergt. William j. Liverman of the
Police Homicide Squad testified
skid marks indicated the auto
mobile went off the road appar-
! emily without trying to make the
turn. The roadway was wet. but
the visibility good, Sergt. Liverman
said, He testified the car must have
been exceeding the 22-mile speed
limit. as it skidded "a feet, side
swiped a telephone pole, then con-
| tinued 25 feet more before turning
over.
Miss Mary T. Smith, IS, of Tim
berville, Va, who was riding in the
rear seat with Mr.. Ellis, told the
| jury the machine was travelling
slowly. Miss Smith, whose forehead
and face still bore scratches and
bruises, has been held at the Dis
/ trlct Receiving Home as a Govern
| ment witness since the accident.
Assistant District Attorney John c..
Conliff, jr., said she would be re-
turned there pending the Police
Court trial
Mrs. Helen Stevens, %, sister of
Miss Smith, still is confined to Gal
linger Hospital because of injuries
she received in the accident. She
did not appear at the inquest.