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Goucher Nov. 19. - Funeral Services for F. M. Fowler whose death occurred at the City Hospital Wednesday from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, were conducted at Goucher church Thursday afternoon with the Rev. Henry Long and Rev. C. A. Kirby officiating. A large number of people were present.
The interment was in the cemetery with the Shuford-Hatcher Company, morticians, in charge.
Many friends in this community sympathize with the family in their bereavement.
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DEATH OF FOWLER CALLED ACCIDENT
DRIVER NOT BLAMED BY Jury
Son Of Victim Swears Out Warrant Before Magistrate: Preliminary Set for Today.
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Goucher Nov. 19. - Funeral Services for F. M. Fowler whose death occurred at the City Hospital Wednesday from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, were conducted at Goucher church Thursday afternoon with the Rev. Henry Long and Rev. C. A. Kirby officiating. A large number of people were present.
The interment was in the cemetery with the Shuford-Hatcher Company, morticians, in charge.
Many friends in this community sympathize with the family in their bereavement.
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DEATH OF FOWLER CALLED ACCIDENT
DRIVER NOT BLAMED BY Jury
Son Of Victim Swears Out Warrant Before Magistrate: Preliminary Set for Today.
The coronor’s jury Wednesday afternoon rendered a verdict that F M. Fowler, 67 year old White Plains farmer fatally injured in a highway accident Monday came to his death by an unavoidable automobile accident. No recommendation was made that anyone be held responsible. The inquest was held at the Shuford-Hatcher funeral home.
Fowler died in the City Hospital here about 11 o'clock Tuesday night as a result of injuries received in an automobile collision about seven miles west of GafFney on the Spartanburg highway near "Piney Grove" service station. The accident happened as Mr. Fowler’s car was struck by a car driven by F. B. Jackson, Atlanta traveling man, who was accompanied by two hitch-hikers.
A warrant was sworn out for the arrest of Mr. Jackson by J. B.Fowler, a son of the dead man before Magistrate Boyd Sarratt on a charge of murder. Mr. Jackson, who had been held for questioning will be given a preliminary hearing at 10 o’clock this morning. County officers said he had indicated that if he was bound over to higher court he would give bond.
Dr. S.B. Sherard, who treated Mr. Fowler, testified at the inquest that Mr. Fowler suffered a compound fracture of the skull over the right temple and a fracture at the base of the skull, in addition to being considerably bruised and nerve-shocked.
John Sparks, proprietor of the filling station where the fatal crash occurred, swore Mr. Fowler, who was driving toward Spartanburg, had started to turn into his filling station, when Mr. Jackson, driving toward Gaffney, ran into the Fowler car, knocking it over several times and flinging Mr. Fowler out into the road. Sparks stated on cross examination that Mr. Fowler’s car had pulled all the way across the road and was already a off the pavement when the wreck occurred.
J. E. Thomas, who stated that He is an officer under the governor of South Carolina, was driving to Gaffney to attend a preliminary hearing1 at the court house, in company with G. C. Hayes, state constable, and an other man named Dick Devore.
The car in which the officers were riding had started to swing around the Jackson car when it struck the car driven bv Mr Fowler.
Mr. Thomas testified that his car had followed the car occupied by Jackson from Cowpens and that the officers were about 20 or 25 feet behind at the time of the crash. Mr. Thomas stated that in his opinion Mr. Jackson was driving about 55 miles an hour at the time. The siren that was blown as the wreck happened was done accidentally by Mr. Hayes, driver of the officers car, Mr. Thomas said. Mr. Thomas said it was his opinion that Mr. Jackson could have stopped his car had a quantity of fresh red dirt not been in the road in front of the service station.
Mr. Hayes, driver of the police car, swore Mr. Fowier did not give any signal or warning to indicate that he was going to turn into the filling station. Mr. Hayes also testified Mr. Fowler had a strong odor as of whiskey on his breath when he was picked up and brought to the hospital.
Mrs. John Sparks, who followed Mr. Hayes to the witness stand,said no mud or dirt was on the pavement when the accident occurred, although she admitted on cross examination that some grading had been done recently in front of the filling station.
J. B. Fowler, a son of Mr. Fowler, who arrived at the scene about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, said that he took a measurement of the skid marks made by the Jackson car. The entire distance of the track indicated the locked wheels had slid about 127 feet, Mr. Fowler said.
The jury who rendered the verdict was as follows: Yancey McCraw, foreman, Oscar Melton, Claude Peeler, Mace Pennington, Hoyt McGujtin and John E. Clary.
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ACCIDENT VICTIM TAKEN BY DEATH
F. M. FOWLER DIES IN HOSPITAL.
While Plains Farmer Succumbs to Injuries Received in Auto Crash Monday.
F. M. Fowler, 67-year-old farmer of the White Plains community. died at the City Hospital here about 11 oclock Tuesday Night as a result oof injuries received in a collision of automobiles on the Spartanburg highway Monday afternoon.
Coroner W P Batchelor was conducting an inquest yesterday afternoon at the funeral home of the Shuford-Hatcher Company.
Mr. Fowler was fatally injured as he started turning from the highway into “Piney Grove” service station operated by John C. Sparks about a mile south of Thickety, when his automobile was struck by another car driven by F. B. Jackson, traveling man of Atlanta. Mr. Jackson was en route from Anderson to Charlotte.
After the accident, Mr. Jackson, who was detained by county officers pending the outcome of Mr. Fowler’s injuries, said he did all possible to avoid the collision. He was traveling at good speed, he stated, when he observed Mr. Fowler pull to the left in front of him. Mr. Jackson said he jammed on his brakes but could not stop in time to avoid the collision.
Mr. Jackson and two companions, whom he had picked up on the road, escaped without injury. Mr. Jackson's automobile was severely damaged, however,
as was Mr. Fowler's car.
Funeral services for Mr. Fowler will be conducted at the Goucher Baptist church Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock bv the Rev. Mr. Long, pastor of White Plains Baptist church, and the Rev. C. A. Kirby, pastor of the Cherokee Avenue Baptist church. Interment will be in the churchyard with the Shuford-
Hatcher Company, morticians. in Charge.
Mr. Fowler is survived by his widow and the following children: J.B.,J.L., Ernest, Richard and Virgil Fowler, Mrs. James Mathis, Miss Eva Belle Fowler and Miss Ezell Fowler; and two sisters Mrs. G. W. Martin, of Spartanburg, and Mrs, Joseph Fowler, of Union.
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JACKSON IS FREED IN FOWLER DEATH
ATLANTA MAN RELEASED TUESDAY.
Grand Jury Refuses to Indict Driver Involved in Fatal Accident Near Thickety.
F. B. Jackson, of Atlanta, who was bound over to the November term of court on a charge of murder in connection with the highway accident death of F. M.
Fowler was released Tuesday afternoon when the Cherokee county grand jury refused to return a true bill against him.
Mr. Jackson had been held in the county jail for several days.
Jackson was arrested last week on a warrant sworn out by J. B. Fowler, son of F. M. Fowler, farmer, of the White Plains section of the county. The latter
was fatally injured November 11 in an auto collision on the Sparanburg highway. Mr, Fowler who was travelling south, had turned into the "Piney Grove” filling station where he was doing some work when the car driven by Mr. Jackson, which was coming toward Gaffney, struck the Fowler car.
Mr. Fowler was taken to the City Hospital here by State Constable G. C. Hayes, of Greenville who in company with the two more men, was passing the Fowler car
at the time of the accident. According to Dr. S. B. Sherard the injured man died of a compound fracture of the skull and other wounds about 11 o’clock the next night.
Mr. Jack.son. who said he was a travelling man of Atlanta, on his way to Charlotte from Anderson, was exonerated of blame in te tragedy by a coroner’s jury at an inquest held at the Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home. The verdict was that Mr Fowler came to his death as a result of an unavoidable accident. No mention was made of anyone being held responsible.
Notwithstanding the verdict rendered by the coroner’s jury, a warrant was sworn out for Mr. Jackson’s arrest by the son of the dead man. Mr. Jackson stayed in the custody of the sheriff until a preliminary hearing was arranged
before Magistrate Boyd Sarratt Saturday afternoon.
At the preliminary witnesses swore to seeing Mr. Fowler turning into the service station in front of the Atlanta man; of seeing Mr. Jackson driving at an unlawful rate of speed; of the fact that Mr. Jackson applied his brakes in an effort to avoid hitting the Fowler vehicle; and that Mr. Fowler had already
cleared the pavement and was on the shoulder of the road when hit. One witness denied this another said that Mr. Fowler held out his hand before turning into
the service station.
Magistrate Sarrat said he sent the case before the higher court because witnesses swore without contradiction that Mr. Jackson was exceeding the lawful rate of speed at the time the wreck occurred.
The no true bill was returned by the grand jury about 5 o’clock Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Jackson left Gaffney immediately after the trial for his home in Atlanta.
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JACKSON ORDERED HELD IN ACCIDENT
AFTER PRELIMINARY BY MAGISTRATE
Driver Had Been Exonerated of Blame In Fowler's Death by Jury at the Inquest
F. B. Jackson, Atlanta traveling man, who had been held in the county jail here on a charge of murder in connection with the highway accident death Of F. M. Fowler, White Plains farmer, was bound over to the criminal term of court of general sessions by Magistrate Boyd Surratt Saturday afternoon.
Jackson was exonnerated of blame in the accident by a coroners jury at an inquest to be held at the Shufford-Hatcher funeral home last Wednesday. A warrant for Jackson's arrest was sworn out by J. B. Fowlers, a son. of the dead man.
At the preliminary which was osiponed from 10 o’clock in the mormning until 1 in the afternoon due to the absence of J. E. Thomas (?) officer and witness of the tragedy, only three new witnesses Were introduced by the state. These
Were Mrs. Hester Phillips, John Biddex and G. O. Lemmons. The former is a domestic servant in the home of John Sparks where the accident occurred. Biddix is the driver of a fruit truck which had just driven up to the filling station before the crash. Mr. Lemmons, Gaffney garagec man, testified as to
the condition of the wrecked car.
Mrs. Philips testified that Mr. Fowler had held out his hand before turning into the filling station. Previously at the inquest, Mr. Thomas had testified that Fowler had given no signal. He reiterated this statement on the stand Saturday. Mr. Biddex, the only other new witness, testified he only saw the crash when It happened and that he saw neither car before.
All the witnesses who testified at the inquest were present at the preminary Saturday and with the with the exception of G. C. Hayes, state constable, all were sworn, and allowed to testify. Substantially the same statements were made at the inquest last Thursday.
Magistrate Sarratt said that as witnesses incontestably swore Mr. Jackson was driving at an unlawful rate of speed, he could see no other course but to send the case before the court of general sessions.
Mr. Fowler was fatally injured when a T-model Ford coupe he was driving was struck by a Terraplane coach(?) driven by Jackson on the highway near Piney Grove service station Monday of last week about o’clock. He died in the City Hospital here about 11 o’clock Tuesday night.
The accident occurred, according to witnesses, as Mr. Fowler, who was doing some work at the filling station, was turning across the highway into the place. Jackson who was travelling toward Gaffney in an opposite direction to Mr. Fowler, struck ihc Fowler car’s far right wheel, knocking it over several times and fracturing Mr. Fowler’s skull.
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