Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1916 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Maoy Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. WOLCOTT P. M. AND WIFE Killed in Automobile Accident Near Montmorenci Saturday Night. Robert Dobbins, postmaster at Wolcott, and his wife were almost instantly killed, and their daughter Vivian, 16 years old; niece Jeannette Dobbins, miraculously escaped with their lives when the automobiie in which they were returning to their home from Lafayette Saturday night overturned in a ditch on the Montaiorenci road, one and one-half miles east of Montmorenci. The victims’ necks were broken when they were caught beneath the edge of the car as it plunged to the bottom of a 10-foot embankment, It is thought. The young women were rescued from beneath the tonneau by Lafayette men In another machine who witnessed the tragedy, They were on the verge of prostration from shock, but escaped without a scratch. v

The party had come to the city early in the evening to attenu a moving picture show and were opposite the farm of Mort Erwin on their return home when the machine turned turtle as the driver attempted to pass a wagon said to have been driven by E. Croll, 1620 Grove street, and B. Goldman, 1619 Grove street, Lafayette.

Mr. Dobbins repeatedly signalled to the men approaching along the narrow road with their wagon, but according to witnesses, the pair did not yield roadway, and the machine plunged over the embankment as he tried to pass.

E. Riedlinger, 1709 Salem street, and Frank Hofiine, West Lafayette, who were following the Dobbins car in another machine, dashed to the rescue, and lifted the heavy machine sufficiently to free the young women, pinioned under the rear seat. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins, crushed beneath the weight of the wrecked car, arc thought to have been dead before aid came, but Riedlinger drove to Montmorenci and raced back to the scene of the accident with Dr. A. M. Mayfield in the hope that their livres might be saved.

The physician found the daughter of the dead pair and their niece without injuries, but they were suffering from nervous shock as a result of the fatal spill. Because of the absence from the city of Coroner Earl Van Reed, his deputy. Dr. J. W. Shaffer, investigated the accident, and the bodies of the victims were taken to Wolcott by Frank & Son, Lafayette undertakers. According to the story told by Riedlinger and Hoffine to the police, Croll and Goldman asserted that they had moved over to allow the machine to pass. Goldman and Croll were returning to the city after selling bananas at a concert at Montmorenci, it yas said. Another version of the escape of Vivian ,and Jeannette Dobbins’ was given by Dr. Mayfield, who said he understood that they were thrown from the car ans over a fence.

Mr Dobbins who was about 50 years old, had £een postmaster at Wolcott since the beginning of the Wilson administration. He operated a general store there for a number of years and was widely known about Wolcott and in Lafayette. He was a cousin of Cy and Dan Dobbins, of Lafayette. He is survived by two brothers, Mose, north of Wolcott, and Charles of Montmorenci. Mrs. Dobbins was some years younger than her husband.—Lafayette Journal.