Elinor Newhard (1915-1921)

NEWHARD, PITTS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/10/2021 at 16:15:19

From Nevada Representative September 29, 1921 (page 1)

Ames Girl Killed By Mail Truck

Six-Year Old Eleanor Newhard* Met Death Tuesday Night

Ames, Sept. 29 -- Eleanor Newhard 6-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Newhard, residing on Lincoln Way, near Kellogg avenue, Ames, was struck by an automobile driven by Whitney Clark, mail carrier, Tuesday evening about 5:30, and died at 8:00 o'clock as the result of a fractured skull.

Clark, who is employed as a rural carrier, was driving west on Lincoln Way. A team was coming from the west just in front of the Holse home.

When Clark, according to witnesses, was about even with the team, the little girl ran out from behind the wagon directly in front of the car, which, they said, was running between 10 and 15 miles an hour.

Mr. Clark, it is said, was unable to stop his car in time to avoid hitting the child, but attempted to turn quickly to the left. The girl was knocked down and one of the wheels of the Ford ran over her head, fracturing the skull, physicians stated.

It was thought that the right hand wheel must have been the one that ran over her, as the car, in stopping ran onto the curbing at the south side of the roadway.

Clarke jumped from his car immediately after the accident. The little girl was taken into her home and physicians called. Death came at about 8:45 o'clock.

According to Mrs. Fred Eller and her brother, eye witnesses, the child ran from behind the wagon directly into the path of the Ford. She had been visiting at the Holse home, and was about to return to her own home across the street when the accident happened.

At the inquest held yesterday, the coroner's jury, composed of W. A. Thompson, J. B. Kooser and H. W. Stafford, returned a decision that Eleanor Newhard came to her death by an unavoidable accident, thus absolving the driver of the mail truck from all blame. Funeral services for the unfortunate girl were held this afternoon from the home.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Elinor Newhard was born 17 November 1915 in Ames, Story County, Iowa and died 27 September, 1921 also in Ames, Story County, Iowa. She was the daughter of William Harry "Harry" Newhard and Lena May Pitts.