Evening star., 1941-01-13
D. T.. Police Officials
Hold Traffic ParIey
As 18 More Are Hurt
Virtual 'Deuth-u-Doy'
Record Established
In City for l94l
BULLETIN.


1919 South Carolina avenue Sc,
held for action of the grand jury
in connection with the traffic
death January II of Walter Ed
ward Norman, At, colored, Of
1400 Twenty eighth street NV.
District authorities today turned
their attention to a study of the
accidents which have established
virtually "death-a-day" traffic
record for Washington in 1941.
Six more persons went to the hos
pital today. Three were in serious
condition as a result of an accident
in the 1900 block of Sixteenth street
NV, while more than a dozen
others were under treatment for
injuries received here yesterday.
Meanwhile, inquests were begun
at the District Morgue to attempt
to fix blame in the deaths of two of
the eight persons who were killed in
traffic here in the first II days Of
the new year.
Ranking police officials held
conference at the same time to
study the traffic situation.
Coupe Uproots Tree.
In the Sixteenth street accident
coupe plowed into and uprooted
20-foot tree, causing three per-
sons in the car to be thrown to the
street and critically hurt.
The driver Of the car, according
| to police. was James Butler, "a,
colored. 1880 New Hampshire avenue
NV. He said he fell asleep at the
wheel.
Witnesses say the car was travelling
south on Sixteenth street, when 1t
went out of control and ran into
the tree on the wrong side Of the
street.
Mr.. Butler was treated for shock,
cuts and internal injuries at EN-
ergency Hospital. Dorothy Height,
20, colored, 2645 Fifteenth street
NV, and Leila o. Scott, 35, colored,
1917 Corcoran street NV, pas
sengers in the car, were removed to
| the same hospital in serious condi-
tion.
Police Discuss Traffic.
The police conference on the traffic
problem was held in the Office of
Maj. Ernest w. Brown, superintend-
ent of police. Members of the police
command we're summoned originally
to discuss inaugural plans.
Maj. Brown decided to use the
occasion for a discussion of the
traffic problem, with a special report
from Inspector Arthur E. Miller,
head Of the Accident Prevention
Unit.
Inspector Miller has expressed dis
satisfaction with the present dis
tribution of traffic police, particu-
larly motorcycle men. He has also
been working on plans for more
effective use Of scout car and foot
patrolmen in traffic enforcement.
Inspector Miller said he would
urge the establishment of central
bureau for all motorcycle police
men, including those officers who
! now operate out Of precinct stations.
He stated that it was his belief
that more efficient patroling of the
streets could be effected in this
manner.
Police Drive Not Favored.
There appeared to be no senti-
ment for police drive" on reckless
drivers. Inspector Miller said that
all cases where police could detect
violations.
He said he did not favor any
intensification of the arrest rate.
Rather than drive" which might
last a few weeks, Inspector Miller
said he was interested in working
out a long range program.
Maj. Brown indicated he was of
the same opinion and at the same
time expressed the opinion that any
system of citizens spotting traffic
violations was doomed to failure.
He pointed out that such a sys-
tenn had been tried here few years
ago with the committee Of 100"
Little of value came of it, he stated.
The inquests today were scheduled
in the deaths of Walter E. Moor
man, 40, colored, who died Saturday
from injuries received in an acci-
dent at Second and E streets Sc,
and William Carpenter, 66. colored,
who died the same way of injuries
received at Logan Circle.
Traffic Victim Near Death.
One man hovered near death at
Emergency Hospital as a result of
week end accidents, while more than
dozen others were under treat
ment for less serious injuries.
Harry E. Acher, 40, of 1921 New
Hampshire avenue NV, was still
in critical condition at Emergency
Hospital with a skull fracture re-
ceived Saturday night in head-on
collision at New Hampshire and
Eastern avenues NE.
In this accident Frank Brogan of
the same address was killed instantly
and two other men received minor
injuries.
AS a result of a collision between
two automobiles on Branch avenue
Sc. Darel PARCEL, 10, of 1920 Fiji
teenth street NV, was in Casualty
Hospital in an undetermined condi-
tion. He suffered neck cuts and
other injuries in the accident yes
terday.
Gerald Bayles, SO, 1451 Park road
NV, and his wife, Marianne, re-
ceived treatment at Casualty Hos
pital yesterday for injuries received
when their car crashed into a lamp
post in the 900 block Of Massa-
chusett avenue NV.
Several Others Injured.
Robert Dennis, jr, colored "a, OF
2447 Twenty-fifth street Sc. was
treated at Walter Reed Hospital for
injuries received in collision with
another automobile at Ninth and