Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-28
1woPersonsDie,
-Four Injured
In Traffic
JurisdictionuI Row
Arises From Death
Of Steumfitter
D. c. Traffic Toll
Killed in 1912 LOT
Killed in same period of l94l SO
Toll for all of 194l 95

1 /
Killed in same period of l94l SO
Toll for all OF 194l - 95
A 19-year-old War Department
stenographer and a 45-year- old
steamfltter were dead and four per-
sons injured today as the result of
weekend traffic accidents. one of
which brought a recurrence of an
old iuriSdictional dispute between
Virginia police, District police and
military authorities.
The dead girl was Miss Frances
Skrabski, 1920 Pennsylvania avenue
Sc, who was killed instantly shortly
before midnight last night when
struck by an automobile as she
crossed Pennsylvania avenue at
Twenty eighth street Sc. She was
returning from neighborhood
movie with her roommate, Miss
Emily Marmury, 10.
Woman Injured.
Miss Marmury, who also was hit
by the automobile, was treated at
According to police, both girls were
Knocked about 20 feet. The impact
threw one of Miss Marmury's shoes
nearly 100 feet. Miss Skrabski was
pronounced dead by DR.. Albert
Coleman, who accompanied a Cas-
ualty Hospital ambulance to the
scene.
Driver of the automobile. accord
Ing to police. was Edwin H. Moran.
"a, OF 1894 Southern avenue, Brad
bury Heights, Md.
An inquest will be held at the
District Morgue at II: 80 am. to-
morrow if Miss Marmury is able to
leave the hospital.
At the request of Army authori-
ties, an inquest will be held at the
same time in the death of Rufus
Smith, 45-year-old steam filter of
4453 Farraday place NV. who was
fatally injured late Saturday when
struck by an automobile on a road
way about 500 yards west of the
Pentagon Building. Mr.. Smith died
in Emergency Hospital of a frac-
tured skull at 800 am. yesterday,
about nine hours after the accident.
Controversy Arises.
Virginia police, District police and
military authorities engaged in
controversy over their jurisdiction
in the case, and the question of
whether the death is to be counted
as a District or Virginia traffic ia
tally was left for consideration by
the inquest jury.
II the death is added to the Dis
trict's total, it will bring the years
traffic toll to l08. including Miss
Skrabski's death last night. Last
year at this time SO persons had
been killed in traffic accidents.
Military policemen removed the
injured man from the scene of the
accident and made a brief report
after he had been taken to Emer-
gency Hospital in Fort Mver am
bulance. Dr. A. Magruder Mac
Donald, District coroner, ordered his
body removed to the District
Morgue
Third precinct police carried a re-
port which said Mr. Smith had been
hit by an automobile operated by
Col. Eugene Elder. Army Signal
Corps officer, of 4700 Connecticut
avenue NV.
Probe Delayed
investigation of the accident was
temporarily delayed Yesterday by the
controversy over jurisdiction. Vir-
glnia police denied any knowledge
OF the accident and said that had it
occurred at the Pentagon, it was
case for either military authorities
or District police.
Inspector Arthur E. Miller, Dis
trict traffic supervisor, refrained
from sending accident investiga-
ting unit officers to the scene. con-
tending it was beyond the jurisdic-
ton of the District police.
An investigation finally was or
dered by Maj. Edward J. Kelly.
chief of Metropolitan police. who
shortly after noon assigned Detec-
tive A. D. Clarke of the accident
unit to the case.
Until decision is reached we
are not going to bubble about whose
territory it is. but will investigate
the DEATH Maj. Kelly said.
Investigation Opened.
The police chief revealed that
the Commissioners and the corpora
ton counsel's office last week opened
an investigation into the boundary
question. Disputes over the strip
of property south of the Highway
and Memorial Bridges have occur
red on numerous occasions since the
Civil War. when the boundary was
fixed as the high-water mark of the
Potomac. The river has receded
repeatedly by land fills since that
time. complicating the boundary
question.
Washington police customarily
have patrolled only to the Virginia
shore. DR.. Mcdonald. however. has
taken jurisdiction over numerous
deaths on the theory that the Dis
trict boundary extends southwark to
the old Columbia pike, or the ancient
highWater mark of the Potomac.
DR.. Mcdonald yesterday said he
had been requested to take the re-
sponsibility in the Smith death by
Brig. Gen. John T. Lewis. COM
mander of the Military District of
Washington.
NewIvwed Dice IN Eroeh.