Homer Lewis Benjamin
March 26, 1908-April 19, 1908
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, April 21, 1930, page 1, col. 8, continued page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
AUTO ON WRONG SIDE OF ROAD; TWO NILES BOYS DIED IN CRASH
Inquest This Afternoon to Probe Cause of Saturday Night Tragedy
S. BEND YOUTHS QUIZZED
One Lad Now Admits Taking Father's Auto Without Permission
An investigation conducted this morning by Deputy Sheriff Chester Overcash at the scene of the accident on US-31 which took the lives of two Niles young men, Earl Parker, 22, and Homer Lewis Benjamin, 22 at midnight Saturday revealed evidence to show the auto which crashed with their motorcycles was operated on the wrong side of the road.
Overcash was ready to present the evidence at the inquest which was called by Justice of the Peace Hardy Langston to be held in the city hall at 3 o'clock. Marks on the pavement clearly showed the the crash occurred while the automobile, a Studebaker Commander sedan driven by Stephen Barcza, 19 year old South Bend youth who had sneaked out the family car without his father's consent, was well to the left side of the traffic way.
Barcza, who with his companions had been sought following the tragedy, surrendered at the South Bend police station last evening following an earlier appearance and report by Joseph James, 713 W. Dunham street, South Bend, and Emery Weaver, 1402 S. Main street, South Bend.
James and Weaver gave the first explanation of the tragedy after Deputy Overcash had requested aid of Detective Casimir Kubiak of the South Bend police force in an investigation. The stated that they had been riding in the rear seat of the death car and were asleep at the crash. They stopped a passing motorist and took Benjamin to Pawating hospital where he died shortly after arrival. Parker was killed instantly.
John Toth, 1702 ½ Walnut street, South Bend, who was riding in the front seat with Barcza corroborated the statements made by Weaver and James. Barcza said he did not see the approaching motorcycles until his car was close upon them. The crash occurred, he said, before he had time to take his bearings. Barcza and his friends had been to a dance at Reid's resort at Barron lake and were returning home about midnight when their car crashed head-on with two motorcycles, one travelling slightly in advance of the other.
Parker and Benjamin had been trying out their machines for a hill climb
Continued on page two
AUTO ON WRONG SIDE OF ROAD; TWO NILES BOYS DIE IN CRASH
they intended to take part in on Sunday at Niles. With Earl Thompson, Thomas Thompson and Andrew Steere, all of Niles, they had gone to South Bend to ty[sic] out the five motorcycles which were entered for the hill climb. The two Thompson boys and Steere had proceeded faster homeward than Parker and Benjamin and did not know of the tragedy until told by police. They said that had passed several cars, the last of which narrowly missed striking them and being on the wrong side of the pavement.
Barcza and Toth fled following the accident, while James and Weaver took Benjamin to Pawating hospital. They told the officers in South Bend that the Niles police who were summoned to the hospital did not seek to learn their identities nor to learn details of the tragedy, or who drove the car.
Barcza told Overcash and Kubiak he was so badly scared he did not knows what he was doing, except to get away. His father, Joseph Barcza, had found the car missing from the family garage about 9 o'clock in the evening and about 2 o'clock in the morning reported it stolen.
When Overcash arrived at the scene he found Parker's motorclcye[sic] a total wreck and lying under the Barcza car which had come to a halt in the ditch at the left side of the road in front of the James Leak residence. Benjamin's motorcycle had been thrown backward 75feet was was lying beside the right side of the highway pavement. Both riders had received fractured skulls.
Earl Parker was born March 3, 1908, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Parker, River Bluff, and was the chief support of the family. His father has been an invalid for some years. Earl worked for about a year at the National Printing and Engraving plant. He is survived by his parents, a full Brother, Leon, and nine half-brothers and sisters. They are Mrs. Grace Westfall, Dan, Archie, Frank and Edward, Parker, Mrs. Edith Chapman, Mrs. Sylvia Binkley, all of Niles, Mrs. Marie Cooper of Elkhart and Walter Schrumpf of Chicago.
The funeral will be held at the Rutherford Funeral Home Tuesday at 11 o'clock, the Rev. W.W. Slee officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Homer Lewis Benjamin was born March 26, 1908, at Edwardsburg, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Judd M. Benjamin, now residing at 116 S. Fifteenth street. He had resided in Niles from the time he was a few weeks old. Besides the parents he is survived by seven brothers and sisters, all of Niles. They are Clarence, Earl, Allen, Florence, Deborah, Electa, and Robert.
He was the uncle of 8 year-old Keith Benjamin, son of Clarence, who was killed last Mary at Oak and Fifteenth Street by a Shell gasoline truck.
Funeral service will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal church, the Rev. Keith Chidester officiating. Burial will be in Silver Brook cemetery. The body will be taken to the home tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.
The coroner's jury summoned by Justice Langston is composed of Ray Straight, James Barkman, Arthur Nelson, John Riddle, A.H. DeField and Fred D. Cook.
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 22, 1930, page 1, col. 4 , microfilm Niles District Library
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD TODAY FOR TWO VICTIMS OF CRASH
Earl Parker Buried This Morning and Homer Benjamin Rites This P.M.
Members of the Niles Motorcycle club of which they were members formed an honorary escort at the funeral services today for Earl Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Parker and Homer Lewis Benjamin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Benjamin, victims of an accident on US 31 last Saturday evening in which both men were almost instantly killed.
The services for Earl Parker were conducted at 10 o'clock with the Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church, in charge. The pallbearers, members of the Niles Motorcycle club, were D.F. Steere, Joseph Turk, Harry Ollinger, Herman Bowerman, Clayton Boht and Alton Thompson. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.
The Rev. W. Keith Chidester, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, conducted the services at the Episcopal church for Homer Benjamin. The following services as pallbearers: Clifford and Gaylord Teske, George Hargreaves, Walter Otteson, Fred Luke and Pete Garling. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery also. Relatives from Elkhart and Edwardsburg were among those present from out of the city.
Flowers and messages of sympathy have been poured into the homes stricken by the tragedy of the death of two young men in their early twenties under circumstances in which the responsibility of the accident is not placed.
In mentioning the surviving relatives of Homer Benjamin in connection with the account of the accident, on Monday, the name of one brother, Charles, was omitted.
