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A Farmer And Grandson Killed By Electric Car

A Farmer And Grandson Killed By Electric Car image
Parent Issue
Day
31
Month
October
Year
1902
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A Farmer and Grandson Killed By Electric Car

Josiah Fenton and His Grandson, of Ypsilanti Town, Killed Thursday Morning.

Struck by Electric Car While Crossing Track at His Residence--Accident Seen In A Neighbor's Mirror.

A shocking double tragedy occurred yesterday morning. Josiah Finton, a retired farmer of Ypsilanti township, and his grandson, Ford Finton, were struck and killed by the 7:45 west bound, D., Y., A. A. & J car at the Finton residence just beyond the east city limits.

The track is directly south of the property line and in driving from the yard Mr. Finton and his grandson put themselves in front of a rapidly moving car. The horse escaped without injury but the carriage and its occupants were struck, the man and boy being hurled 60 feet through the air. Mr. Finton was lifeless when picked up by the crew of the car, but the boy lived fifteen minutes, concussion of the brain in both cases causing death.

Mrs. Finton has been dangerously ill for the past week, and it is believed that anxiety over her condition caused her husband to relax his accustomed precautions in regard to the cars.

Aside from Motorman Allen, of the car, the sole witness of the double tragedy was Miss Olive Collins, who lives next door to the Finton home. She was standing with her back to a window and in the mirror saw the reflection of the Finton carriage and of the car which struck it. At first she could not realize that she was gazing at actual events, but upon turning around to the window perceived at once that the mirror had not bee playing her false.

Miss Carrie Finton, the daughter of the deceased, was in the yard at the time of the accident, but did not know that anything had happened until she saw the horse plunging about, with the carriage battered and broken. She then ran to the carriage, to see a car standing still a short distance down the track and a crowd about two motionless figures on the ground.

Coroner Watts arrived at 9:15 with a jury and after the remains had been viewed the inquest was adjourned to Wednesday afternoon.

Josiah Finton was 72 years of age and his birthplace was New York. He married Parmelia Laraway, of Salem, and the couple have been blessed with seven children, of whom the following six are living: Cassius and Herbert Finton, of Ypsilanti township; Walter Finton, of Minneapolis; Jesse Finton, of Chicago; Mrs. G. H. Kimmel, of Ypsilanti, and Miss Carrie Finton.

The grandson, Ford, was the son of Cassius Finton, who is a traveling salesman.