Cecil Cole
1916-August 15, 1931
Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1931, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
NILES BOY KILLED WHILE RIDING ON BICYCLE ON US-31
Cecil Cole, 14, Fatally Injured Late Saturday Evening; Brother Is Hurt
Berrien county's auto traffic death toll was increased to 20 with the death Saturday night of Cecil Cole, 14, son of Mrs. Mae Cole, 851 S. Eleventh . . .[illegible]. . . when a bicycle on which he and a . . .[illegible] . .U.S. 31, a mile south of Brandywine creek was struck by an automobile driven by Rudolph Depaepe, 22, of 606 Birdsell street, South Bend. He died while being taken by a passing autoist to St. Joseph hospital in South Bend.
Marvin Cole also was injured, receiving a fracture of the right arm and body lacerations and bruises. Deputy Coroner, Paul E. Healey of South Bend ordered an inquest to be held in the Indiana city this afternoon, although the accident took place in Michigan and the boy is believed to have been dead before his body was carried over the state line. Early this afternoon, Dr. Healey said he expected the inquest verdict would declare the death to have been caused by an unavoidable accident.
The dead boy when examined at the hospital was found to have sustained a skull fracture, arm fracture, and fractured ribs, as well as internal injuries.
Depaepe, accompanied by Julius Vadas, 1813 S. Catalpa street, South Bend was enroute to Barron lake about 7:30 when he saw the bicycle with the two boys riding it ahead in the center of the lane of the northbound two lane traffic way of the four lane highway. Both told the deputy coroner the bicycle was zigzagging. They were travelling about 35 or 40 miles an hour, they said, and attempted to swing to the left of the boys.
At that instant the bicycle swung right toward the outer lane. Cecil Cole, who was pedalling the bicycle, also swung right at the same time and crashed into the side of the automobile, according to the report to the coroner. Depaepe swung off the pavement into the ditch, shattering the windshield of his car.
Depaepe and Vadas sprang to aid the boys. A motorist who was traveling south stopped and they were loaded into his car and taken to St. Joseph's hospital. Cecil Cole was unconscious when picked up from the pavement. He was dead when the hospital was reached.
Cecil is survived by his mother, his brother Marvin and a young sister, Catherine. His father also survives but lives in Wisconsin with his second wife.
The funeral service will be held at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning from the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. Frank Burnette of the Pentecostal church, officiating. Burial will be in Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 18, 1931, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
The Rev. Harry Barnett, pastor of the Full Gospel Assemble church, conducted the funeral service this morning for Cecil Cole, 14, Niles youth who was killed on Saturday evening when he was riding on U.S. 31 south of Brandywine on a bicycle and the bicycle was struck by a motorist driving in the same direction. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.