grave import

Obituary

William Batson, about 60, Cascade landing, was killed instantly about 10:30 pm Thursday, when struck by an automobile driven by Donald Leroy Long, 17, of 1404 Helsey street, in front of the Harbor Light tavern, 407 South Main street, police said.
Coroner R. O. Giles announced that an inquest will be held at Giles Funeral home at 9:30 am Saturday.
Long, driving a car owned by Roy Floyd, 306 S. Third street, was proceeding north on Main street, and Batson was walking west across Main.
Long told police that he did not see Batson until the man was directly in front of the car. He said he swerved the machine in an effort to avoid striking the pedestrian, but the man walked into a right fender and was thrown to the pavement.
Lorena Catheline Renolds, 22, 715 N. Main Street, was a passenger in the automobile at the time of the accident. Miss Renolds and the driver are being detained by police pending completion of the investigation. No charges have been filed.
Witnesses reported that the car was traveling at a slow rate of speed, and Long estimated the speed at not more than 8 to 10 miles per hour. Officers said the brakes on the car were not good. The care was to be tested officially late Friday.
Assistant Police Chief HB Eland said Miss Renolds told him she didn’t see Batson in front of the car but admitted her eyesight is bad. She reported the first she knew of the accident her eyesight is bad. She reported the first she knew of the accident was when she heard a scraping noise near the right rear fender of the car and Long said, “I’ve hit a man.”
Long told Eland that he had been trying of the car – a 1932 Chevrolet.
“A man suddenly appeared in front of the car out of the darkness,” said Long. “He was about 2 feet in front of the car when I saw him. I quickly turned to the left to avoid hitting him, but the right front fender hit him. I applied the brakes immediately but the did not take hold, so I steered the car to the east curb.”
According to Long, the lights on the care were in pretty good shape but the battery was weak.
Baston’s death was probably the result of a skull fracture, according to a physician who examined the body. He was bleeding from the head when picked up by officers.
Batson is survived by 2 brothers, Frank and Harry Batson, 218 S. Fourth Street, and 2 half-brothers, Quill Clark, Dobbs, Ia., and Neal Clark, Taponich, Wash. The body is at Giles funeral home and funeral arrangements have not been made.
The preliminary investigation was handled by Officers Bertlshofer and Schieffer and Captains Robert Goodman and William Anderson. Chief of police Joe Baird, Assistant Chier Eland, County Attorney Blythe Conn, and Coroner Giles were co-operating in the investigation Friday.
Funeral services for Mr. Batson will be held at the Giles Funeral Home, Monday morning at 10:30, interment will be in Aspen Grove cemetery.