The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-01

20th at Donovan field. The wife of the victim of the accident witnessed his death.
 During the inquest, Thomas Wil- son, of Hartford; Raymond Nestor Bronx, N. Y.; and Walter Fusco, of Richmond Hill, N. Y, three of the drivers in the race, testified as to the factors involved in the crash. It was brought out that Lanehart, "a novice" at midget racing, was piloting a car powere dwith an eight-cylinder motor of great accel- erating speed and an unexpected burst of speed caused his era to collide with Nestor's car.
 The text of Coroner Corrigans $ finding follows:
 Deceased, married, an automo- bile mechanic, lived at 104 High land avenue, Waterbury, Conn,
 "On July 20, 1899, about 9:25 D. m., he was injured in an automO- bile accident at the midget auto racetrack in Savin Rock, West Ha- ven, Conn, and he died in New Haven hospital, to which he was removed after the accident at 9:55 p. m. the same day as a result of cruising injury of chest, internal injuries.
 T find that deceased had had con- siderable auto racing experience in big cars but was a novice al midget racing, this event being said to have been his third. His was one of six vehicles in the sec- ond qualifying heat and he was given the No. position which is the most favorable, being in the first row on the inside of the track Next to him or in No. 9 position was a man known as Cow Boy O'Rourke", and behind deceased in third. position was one Walter Fused. One Raymond Nestor was in No. position which was two behind deceased. After being given their positions the drivers circled the track once, holding these posi-. tions in order to get off to a fly ing start. If the starter is satisfied that they have fairly maintained their faces he signals them tt start the race, and this accident happened on the first turn after the race started.
 T find that in the straight away before getting to the turn Nestol passed first Fusco and then de. ceased as the latter, exhibiting hi. inexperience, held up Fusco whe was very close to him but unable to pass for the moment for fear oi riding into the path of some ont who was coming from his rear. A! Nestor went into the turn, O'Rourkt was the only one ahead of him bu about halfway around the turn de- ceased's vehicle suddenly shot for ward, the left front of 1t collidini with the right of Nestor's 50 that i rode up on Nestor's rear axle, witt the result that it. was urtned ovel or roated 360 degrees in a clock wise direction. coming to a stop or its four wheels against the fence.
 The vehicles in these races at. tain maximum speed of AS to 5( miles an hour on the straight. aways. At the time this accident happened I find that the speed ol deceased's and Nestor's vehicle! was about 35 miles an hour. Due ot his inexperience he had been hold. ing up the race but his very ligh' vehicle was equipped with Fore va motor and its accelerating pow. CTS were very great in the excite ment of the race deceased probably got an unexpected burst of speed al he stepped on the accelerator, caus. ing his vehicle to collide with Mes. tors. I am of the opinion that the accident and the death of deceased were caused by his own lack of skill rather than anybody else's inten. tional act or gross negligence; ant therefore find that no other per. sons are criminally responsible fol ] the death of deceased"