researched by Elaine Sokolowski, Peoria Public Library
Peoria Journal-Transcript Sunday, May 21, 1933, Page 1
OPEN VERDICT IN GIRL’S DEATH
No Blame Fixed in Elsie Bandy Case
No blame was fixed for the fatal accident, the coroner jury’s verdict merely reading: “We the jury find hat Elsie Bandy came to her death at the Pekin Public hospital at 5 a. m., May 20, 1933, from a fracture of the skull received on May 19, 1933, about the hour of 8 p.m. on Route 9 near the foot of Tuscarora hill when she was struck by an automobile driven by Herbert Roman, 913 North Fourth street, Pekin, while walking on the east side of Route 9 towards Peoria, and the automobile driven by Herbert Roman was traveling north in the same direction": Signed: Glen Hoffman, William Naylor, John Gainer, H. D. Johnson, Congress Miller, John Rauch.
Several Witnesses
The inquest was conducted by Coroner Nelson A. Wright at
the Noel Funeral Home Saturday afternoon. There was a group of witnesses,
including John Bandy, who said Elsie had been in good health and spirits
when she left home; Theodore Dobson who lives near the scene of the accident
and was attracted by screams and helped carry Elsie Bandy off the road, and
Ruth Ridell who resides near and witnessed the accident and who did not see
another car coming.
Evelyn Hunt, sister of Noami Hunt, who was injured, told how she and her
sister and Elsie had started for her home to get a guitar so they could have
some Hawaiian music for a party at the Bandy home. They were approaching a
truck parked just off the east side of the road. She was in front, followed
by Elsie and Noami in the order named. When she realized the car was
approaching she stepped aside. The car struck Elsie and the witness said she
screamed and when she looked about she saw Elsie on the pavement and Noami
on the fender.
Donald Hogue, who was sitting on the porch at the front of the store, said
there was a car which passed but that it had no especially bright lights.
Chief of Police Ralph Goar gave a report to the police entered by Night
Chief Ted Mulvey which stated that George Bandy, father of Elsie, had
reported that his daughter and another girl had been struck by a car and
were in the hospital in a serious condition and the car did not stop. John
Reinhadt, a Peoria road police officer, who reached the scene some time
after the accident, and Chester Kappel, a coal miner who lives across the
river and was in the vicinity of the accident hauling a load of coal to
Peoria, were also witnesses.
Driver Testifies
Herbert Roman; the driver who struck the girls, testified that he did not recall seeing the truck the Hunt girl told about. There was a car approaching and he fixed his eyes on the dark line in the center of the road so that he would not be forced off in passing the car, he said. The moment he saw the girls he struck them and he had no opportunity to avoid the accident, he asserted. He said he stopped at the Hogue store about 150 yards beyond the accident and told them he had struck three girls. Then he ran back to the scene and asked somebody to get a car but no one did so. Then he went for his car which was damaged and by the time he got back the girls had been brought to Pekin in the ambulance and he drove to the Pekin police station.
Peoria Journal-Transcript December 19, 1935 Page 26
Mrs. Bandy Settles Death Damage Suit
Settlement for $1,500 of the claim of Mrs. Mary Bandy against Herbert Roman of Pekin for the death of her daughter, Elsie Bandy in an automobile accident near Kingston Mines was approved in probate court yesterday by Judge C. G. Cisna. The accident occurred May 19, 1935, when Roman’s car stuck the girl on the highway. Suit for $10,000 brought by Mrs. Bandy against Roman was dismissed in circuit court.
