Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1909 — Gillam Township Farmer-Steps In Front of John Ott’s Auto. [ARTICLE]

Gillam Township Farmer-Steps In Front of John Ott’s Auto.

Whenever an automobile is concerned in an accident, the automobile driver is usually considered to be to blame. But in the case of John Ott’s auto striking and knocking down J. B. Reed, of Gillam township, this Wednesday morning, it seems sure that no responsibility whatever should attach to Mr. Ott. He had just reached here from Remington and was driving east on Washington street. Mr. Reed started across the street in front of the machine and just before he reached the machine he turned as if to retrace his steps and Mr. Ott, who was about to stop in order to let him pass, allowed the machine to run on. Mr. Reed, however, again changed his mind and turned back, walked directly in front of the machine. Mr. Ott was driving very slowly and brought the machine to a stop before the front wheels had passed over the prostrate form of Mr. Reed. Reed was pulled out from in front of the machine and did not seem to be much hurt, but when examined by a doctor it was found that his lower floating rib on the left side was fractured. Mr. Ott, who is recognized as a very careful driver, was worse stunned than Mr. Reed himself by the accident and accompanied the man to the doctor’s office. He thinks that the broken rib was caused by Reed being struck by one of the fenders of the car. Spectators seem to agree that the acident was unavoidable from Mr. Ott’s standpoint-