Raymond Smith Jr.
Nov. 10, 1927-July 16, 1934
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 17, 1934, page 1, col. 7, cont. page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
CHILD KILLED WHILE RIDING TRICYCLE ON FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY
Inquest Under Way Today by Justice Farrell; Woman Driver Detained
The inquest into the death of Raymond Smith Jr., six-year-old son of Raymond Smith, who was killed at 3:10 o'clock Monday afternoon when a tricycle upon which he was riding on US-31 and Silverbrook avenue was struck by a car driven by Mrs. Ruth Deacon, 36, Webster Grove, Mo., began at 10 o'clock this morning in the Rutherford Funeral home with Justice Thomas Farrell presiding.
Following the accident, the child died on the way to Pawating hospital in a Rutherford ambulance. The boy had lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Noble, 1226 Thirteenth street, who raised him from infanthood, and was with Frank Taylor at the time of the accident.
Mother Mrs. Pinkerton
The child's mother is now Mrs. Gertrude Pinkerton.
With Mrs. Deacon was her son, Richard, two, and her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Fitzgibbons, also of Webster Grove.
Testimony by Mrs. Deacon and her father showed that the child was riding his tricycle on the highway between the first and second traffic lanes for northbound traffic when first noticed by the occupants of the car. Both declared the boy was weaving back and forth and estimated the speed of the car at between 40 and 45 miles per hour as it neared Niles.
Mr. Fitzgibbons testified that the child moved toward the outer lane as the car approached and Mrs. Deacon swerved to the left and then back to the right in an attempt to miss the tricycle.
The force of the impact threw the boy to the pavement and the motorcar swerved into the bank at the right of highway. Mrs. Fitzgibbons was in the front seat with her daughter but testified that she was looking at a map when the accident occurred. All stated that an incline in the highway at that point obstructed the view of anyone on the other side of the hill.
View Obstructed
W. C. Winter, only other motorist near the scene, testified the boy weaved back and forth several times as did the car before the impact but expressed the belief that boy was visible for 200 feet on the highway.
Mrs. Marie Muntz, living near the highway, Frank Taylor and Melton Steere, Rutherford employe, also testified.
The defendants were represented by Attorney Dorn, South Bend, and the plaintiffs by Attorney Edwin J. Donahue, Niles.
Jurors were H.L. Fox, P.B. Williams, William Stout, John H. Huff, A.E. Buchanan and Harold Thompson. The jury was adjourned until 1 o'clock.
Besides the father and mother, the deceased is survived by a half-brother, James Pinkerton.
The body will remain at the Rutherford Funeral Home until Wednesday morning when it will be removed to the home of Mrs. Noble. The funeral services will be conducted by William Putnam, pastor of the South Niles Community church. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 19, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
SMITH RITES TODAY
Funeral services for Raymond Smith Jr., who was instantly killed Monday afternoon when a motorcar struck the tricycle he was right on highway US-31, were held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Noble, 1228 Thirteenth street.
Interment was in Silverbrook cemetery with William Putnam, pastor of the South Niles Community Church, officiating.
Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record, son of Raymond Smith and Gertrude Moneysmith