Frank Gilbert
July 17, 1915-Aug. 6, 1938
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 6, 1938, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles Boy Killed, 3 Hurt as Speeding Car Strikes Truck Near Indian Lake
Frank Gilbert Victim of Fatal Crash This Morning
Injured in Hospital
Truck Driver Claims to Have Misjudged Auto's Speed
One Niles youth was killed and his three companions injured when a speeding car crashed into a truck on the Indian lake road at 12:30 this morning.
The dead:
Frank Gilbert, 23, of 19 North Fourth street, Niles.
The injured:
Chester York, 24, 122 1/2 North Front street, driver of the car, jaw and thigh fractures, punctured chest;
Anna Schultz, 18, Dowagiac, jaw and skullfractures, bruises;
Kathryn Rife, 18, Dowagiac, Possible fracture of spine and pelvis.
All of the injured are in Lee Memorial hospital, Dowagiac, with about an even chances for recovery.
Truck Driver Unhurt
James Gallinger, Sodus, truck driver, and Joseph Flamenbaum, owner of the truck, escaped injury.
The accident occurred two miles west of Dowagiac when Gallinger attempted a left turn in front of the speeding York car. The young people were en route from Indian lake to Dowagiac when the fatal crash occurred.
Dr James Kelsey, Cass coroner, could not be reached this morning for information on a possible inquest. Cass county sheriff's department has no record of any arrests in connection with the accident.
Home on Furlough
Young Gilbert was in Niles visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Gilbert. He was on furlough from the U.S. Aviation Corps headquarters at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill. He came to Niles Friday and joined his parents at Indian lake where they are vacationing. He met York at a dance and the two were taking the girls to Dowagiac when the fatal crash occured[sic]. Gilbert and York were in the front seat, the girls in the rear seat of the car.
Gallinger, driver of the truck, said he believed he had time to make the left turn but misjudged the speed of the approaching car.
Gilbert's body was brought to the Rutherford funeral home. Services will be held there Monday.
Before coming to Niles Friday he had passed tests as a radio operator in the Air Corps of the United States army and was to have been graduated Aug. 19. He had been stationed at Rantoul since his enlistment Dec. 23, 1936.
Gilbert was born in Paw Paw, July 17, 1915. He came to Niles with his parents 12 years ago. He leaves his parents, three brothers, Norman, Leroy and Donald, and one sister, Mrs. Max Albright, Niles.
Friends of the family may call at the Rutherford funeral home.
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