ANDY SMITH (d. 1923)

CHILD STRUCK BY AUTO, FATALLY HURT, DIES
4-YEAR OLD IS VICTIM FATAL MISHAP TODAY
Little Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Smith Meets Death
Rushing from between two automobiles parked near the Rahr-Nash garage
on South Tenth street to hurry across the street to his home, shortly
after noon today, little Andrew, 4 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Lake C.
Smith was struck by and autombile driven by Miss Helen Hoyer and fatally
injured. The child died soon after arrival at the hospital where he was
taken. Dr. Teitgen, who was called, found the child beyond help. The boy
never regained consciousness.
The tragedy occurred in front of the Smith home at Tenth and Jay streets.
Miss Hoyer, who is a student at the high school was driving the Hoyer car
to school, being accompanied by Miss Florence Randolph in the front seat
while her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hoyer occupied the rear seat of
the machine. The car, it is said, was being driven at a moderate rate and
when it struck the lad, Miss Hoyer immediately applied the brakes, stopping
the car almost instantly as indicated by the fact that the body of the boy
was lying betwen (sic) the two wheels of the machine.
Skull Fractured
The child's skull was fractured, whether due to the wheels of the car passing
over it or from contact with the pavement, being a question. According to Mr.
Hoyer, who assisted in caring for the boy and taking him to the hospital,
witnesses differ as to whether the wheels passed over the child and from his
seat he was unable to state. Dr. Teitgen who made an examination, said that
the child's face bore evidence of injury which might have been due to striking
the pavement in the fall or by contact with wheels of the automobile. The
child was dead when Dr. Teitgen reached the hospital.
Miss Hoyer Prostrated
Miss Hoyer was prostrated by the shock of the accident and was taken to her
home. Mr. Hoyer accompanied the injured child to the hospital and was there
when death came to the lad. He tendered every assistance to the stricken
family, the parents, reaching the scene immediately after the accident.
Little Andy as he was familiarly known to the family and friends was one of
four children of Mr. and Mrs. Lake Smith, Tenth and Jay streets and a most
likeable little chap. He, with other children played about the walks near the
home and has crossed the street to the garage and was rushing back home when
the accident happened. Besides his parents, three siblings (private), survive
him.
May Hold Inquest
District Atty. Brady took up inquiry into the accident after receiving notice
of the death of the Smith child and said that an investigation was being
conducted to determine whether an inquest would be called or not.
The tragedy is the first in the city due to motor accidents this spring. The
sympathy of the community goes out to the stricken parents and family.
Manitowoc Herald News, Thursday, May 24, 1923 P.1
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DEATH OF BOY HELD ACCIDENT, UNAVOIDABLE
No Blame Attached to Driver of Car Says Jury
Yesterday's automobile tragedy in which little 4 year old Andrew,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Lake Smith met his death on South Tenth street,
was "an unavoidable accident" a verdict of a coroner's jury held
today after an inquest in the matter. Miss Helen Hoyer, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hoyer, who drove the car, was exonerated
from any blame in connection with the unfortunate accident.
Members of the coroner's jury, who conducted the inquiry which was
called by Coroner W.G. Kemper and District Atty. C.E. Brady, examined
a number of witnesses and submitted its verdict after a half hour
review of the testimony. Members of the jury were Oscar Meyer, Fred
Barnstein, Anton Karnofsky, John Koehler, Anton Hanson and Charles
Solverson.
Car Proceeeding Slowly
Testimony of witnesses was to effect that the automobile was proceeding
at a slow rate, 10 to 15 miles per hour and that Miss Hoyer was
experienced in the operation of the automobile and was not negligent,
rumors that the accident was due to the fact that the driver was leaning
from the car to watch a tire, not being substantiated. One wheel of the
machine passed over the child it was testified by the only witness who
climed to have seen the impending tragedy.
Fred Krohn, a young man in the employ of the Manitowoc Lumber company,
was one to see the impending tragedy. He stated that he saw the Smith
child dart from behind the side of the car that was parked in front of
the garage, and onto the street, and added that when he saw the child
run into the stret (sic) and the Hoyer machine approaching, that he was
expecting that the child would be run over. He added that Miss Hoyer was
driving "less than fifteen miles an hour." A right wheel of the machne
passed over the child's body, he testified.
That Miss Hoyer stopped her car immediately and offered assistance was the
statement of Charles Horstman, a painter, who also testified.
Father of Boy Called
Lake Smith, father of the dead boy, was the first witness at the inquest
but said that he had not witnessed the accident. Arthur Sorge, employed
by the Rahr-Nash garage stated that he was on the scene immediately after
the accident and was the first to reach the unfortunate victim and that
when he picked the body of little Andy up there was no sign of life. He
believes that the child died almost instantly.
Charles Hoyer, father of Miss Hoyer who with Mrs. Hoyer occupied the rear
seat of the automobile, described the accident to the jury. He said that
the Smith boy darted from between two automobiles. He submitted a drawing
to show the position of the parked cars and the Hoyer machine. Mr. Hoyer
said that the Hoyer car was proceding at 10 miles and hour and that his
daughter had operated the machine for a year.
Miss Hoyer, who was able to appear at the inquest, corroborated her father's
statements and said that she had noticed the Smith boy when he was about
three or four feet from the car and immediately applied the brakes, but it
was too late. Miss Hoyer was deeply affected and following the accident had
to be taken to her home and placed under care of a physician.
Miss Florence Randolph, who was also in the Hoyer car, testified briefly to
facts as stated by Miss Hoyer and other witnessed, corroborating Miss Hoyer
in statements as to the speed of the car, the manner in which the child ran
from between the cars that made it impossible to avoid the accident when he
was seen and other facts.
Funeral Held Tomorrow
The funeral of the little Smith boy will be held at St. Boniface church at
9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Manitowoc Herald News, Friday, May 25, 1923 P.1
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[bur 05-26-1923/cause: accidental death-automobile]