Extracted from The Vicksburg Herald (Vicksburg, MS)
CHILD DIES FROM INJURIES BY AUTO
RAN IN FRONT OF MACHINE AND WAS KNOCKED DOWN.
Roy Wilson Was Driving, Swerved the Car, But Mildred Marsalis Jumped In Front.
Mildred Marsalis, six-year-old daughter of E. L. Marsalis an engineer of a log train on the Y. and M. V. railroad between Vicksburg and Cedars, yesterday morning at 10:30 o'clock ran in front of an auto driven by Roy. L. Wilson, a valued member of The Herald's composing room force, suffering a broken hip and internal injuries from which she died three hours later in a local sanitarium.
Eye witnesses exonerate Wilson and confirm his statement that he was going slowly in Washington street, and swerved the car when the girl ran into the street, but she darted in front of the car and was knocked down. The car was stopped within its own length.
Dr. H. H. Harrison was an eye witness, and took the child to the sanitarium, while Wilson drove to Cedars to get the father. Mr. Marsalis could not leave his engine and asked Wilson to drive back to Vicksburg and notify the train dispatcher to have a man relieve him when he brought the train to the city.
Mr. Marsalis brought his train to Vicksburg as soon as he could, and arrived to spend some time with his wife at the bedside of their little girl. The parents are heart-broken, and none but a parent can measure the pain that is tugging at their heart-strings. Roy Wilson, a generous-hearted young man, who is a father himself, shares their grief with them, for his heart has been sorely stricken, even though all who witnessed the accident, say it was beyond his power to avert.
Mr. Wilson is a son-in-law of W. Hemingway, proprietor of Hemingway's garage. He was driving Mr. Hemingway's car, taking John J. Williamson, a young business man, to W. D. Laughlin's in Thomas street, from whom Williamson wished to secure an estimate on some carpenter work. Mr. Williamson's car was in the shop and he asked Mr. Hemingway to lend him his car, the latter acquiescing with the proviso that Roy drive the machine. He is a very careful driver, and especially so while driving in the city or on a heavily traveled road.
They were going out Washington street. Near Speed street, Mildred, standing on the curbstone, looked at the approaching car, and cuddenly [sic suddenly] ran into the street. Wilson rapidly swerved, almost turning his car around, but the little girl, evidently frightened, darted in front of the car and was knocked down, the body of the car passing over her.
Mr. Wilson was arrested and released to appear in police court this morning. He is well and favorably known throughout the Mississippi newspaper world, having been engaged with his brother in the newspaper business at Richton, was foreman of the Laurel Leader, and has been employed in Columbus and Jackson.
His car and services are always at the command of committees arranging for convention or grand lodge delegations to drive through the Vicksburg Military Park.
Funeral at 6 p.m.
The funeral arrangements were completed last night, having been deferred to determine whether the body should be taken to Stevenson, the former home of Mr. and Mrs. Marsalis, or have the interment in this city. It was finally decided to hold the funeral here, and the services will be held this evening at 6 o'clock, at the home of the bereaved parents, 2432 Washington street. The services will be conducted by the pastor of the Bowmar Avenue Baptist church. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend.
Mr. and Mrs. Marsalis have two other children; both boys, one eight years and the other aged eighteen months. Mrs. Marsalis is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McDowell of Stevenson, who, with other relatives, will attend the funeral.
Friday, July 9, 1920