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SUDDEN DEATH BY ACCIDENT Little May Whitesel Killed By collision Of Cars
On State Road-Inquest Held-Driver Of Car Gives Bail Last Thursday
evening, January 27, a most distressing accident occurred on the state
road leading from McConnellstown to Huntingdon near the farm owned by
the Huntingdon Golf Club when a little girl lost her life in a collision
between two automobiles. Charles Whitesel who resides on the Golf Club
farm and who had the little daughter of Jesse Whitesel in the car with
him, drove onto the state highway from a byroad right into the path of a
car coming toward Huntingdon from Broad Top City. The car was going at a
pretty lively clip and the Whitesel car was struck fairly, throwing the
driver out and so badly injuring the little girl, who was aged five
years, that she died before help could be summoned. One leg was torn
from the body. Both cars were badly damaged and the other occupants
considerably bruised and lacerated. In the Whitesel car were Mr. and
Mrs. Jesse Whitesel and children, Grace Mary and Nora. They were
returning from a visit to Chas. Whitsell's home. He was driving a
Chevrolet. The party from Broad Top City composed of Doyle Black, John
Nevell, John Lovelle and Archie Hummel were driving a Ford. The Ford was
body damaged. The unfortunate child was taken to the home of Frank
Whitsel where services were held Sunday afternoon at half past two
o'clock with interment in the cemetery at McConnellstown. Mr. and Mrs.
Whitsell have the sympathy of the entire community over their
unfortunate bereavement. Coroner Schum empanneled a jury composed of
D.M. Stewart, Robert Miller, Chas. B. Zeigler, A.J. Starr, J.G. Dell and
R.M. Hoopes, who held an inquest upon the body Friday afternoon, January
28, 1921 and rendered the following verdict: Nora May Whitesell came to
her death in an automobile accident on the state road between
McConnellstown and Huntingdon, on the night of January 27, 1921, between
the hours of seven and eight o'clock, about one-quarter hour of eight
o'clock, and this jury would recommend that Doyle Black, the driver, be
held for tresspassing on the wrong side of the road which resulted in
this accident and loss of life of this child. There has been much
discussion by this accident and the result and effect on the rights of
travelers on the highways, as many do not seem to know what their rights
are, do not care for the rights of others, but this much we will venture
as the law in the case of automobile accidents and governing the use of
Motor vehicles and it is given our readers without charge. In order to
recover damages for injuries said to be result of negligence, the burden
of proof is on the plaintiff who must show that negligence upon the part
of the defendants caused the accident. Furthermore, if it is shown that
the plaintiff contributed in any way to the negligence that caused the
accident, he can not recover. If neither party was negligent there can
be no recovery.