STREET CAR HITS AUTO LADEN WITH FIVE CHILDREN AND THREE WOMEN

All Thrown Out and Pedestrians on the Sidewalk Hurt

C.J. Laughlin was Entertaining Children from the Italian Section in Buffalo

(Special to the Telegraph)

[Welland Telegraph, 22 August 1916]

Buffalo, N.Y., Aug. 21-A seven passenger touring car driven by C.J. Laughlin of Parkway Heights, Welland, but bearing an Ohio license plate, was struck Saturday evening at six o’clock here at Niagara and Maryland Streets by a Niagara Falls trolley car and five children and three women were badly hurt. One child, Ellen Canty, aged two, of 207 Efner Street, Buffalo, sustained a fractured skull and critical internal injuries, and is not expected to survive. All of the injured were rushed to the Columbus Hospital excepting one woman, who received treatment by a surgeon of the Emergency Hospital ambulance at the scene of the accident.

Police Inspector Donovan, who immediately took charge of the investigation of the accident, ordered Laughlin to be locked up.

Laughlin told the police that he was passing the Italian section and he invited the children for a ride. The kids were eager to go, Laughlin declared, and all jumped into the car. Miss Charlotte Bennett, of 80 Whitney Place, was with Laughlin when the children got into the machine. They drove over Whitney Place to Maryland Street and then turned west. At Niagara Street a Niagara Falls car in charge of Martin Bond, motorman and M.G. Carr, conductor, both of Buffalo, appeared coming north. Various witnesses declared the trolley slowed down for the crossing but the automobile tried to cross the street ahead of the street car. Laughlin’s machine was struck and Miss Bennett and the children were scattered about the pavement. The auto then dashed over the curbing at the northwest corner. Mrs. Margaret Canty, 29, was passing on the sidewalk, wheeling her baby, two years old, in a baby carriage. Mrs. Bessie Burgar, who was with Mrs. Canty, also was wheeling her little girl in a carriage. The automobile knocked both women down and tossed Mrs. Canty’s baby carriage against the building. It is this child who is not expected to live to survive her injuries. Mrs. Canty was also severely bruised and cut. Mrs. Burgar was cut on the arms but her baby luckily escaped injury.

The children who were thrown out of the machine when the crash occurred were Daniel George, aged 6; his brother, Peter, aged 3 and their sister, Rose, aged 9; all of 109 Dante Place, and the children’s cousin, Louis Curaldo, aged 6, of 114 Whitney Place. Rose George was cut and bruised about the face, while Louis Curaldo received contusions of the face and a probable fracture of the skull and his condition is also critical.

All were taken to the Columbus Hospital, which is only a short distance from where the accident occurred. Mrs. Burgar was attended by the surgeon from the Emergency Hospital and Miss Bennett disappeared immediately after the accident, but later was found at her home. She had been badly shaken up in the crash, but did not suffer serious injury. Laughlin was slightly shaken up, but he fortunately escaped other injuries.

When the impact occurred Police Lieutenant Highley and Patrolmen Dean and Penota, were standing about one street down Niagara Street. They rushed up to the corner, picked up the injured and telephoned for four different ambulances. Late Sunday the Columbus Hospital notified Dr. Stocker, medical examiner, that the Canty baby has small chance of recovery. Mrs. Canty was able to leave the hospital yesterday, but she refused to do so, preferring to remain at the hospital with her baby. Pending a more complete investigation of the accident, Laughlin will be held by the police on an open charge.