FOXWORTHY, Charles E. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Charles E. "Gold" FOXWORTHY, 45, of near Garfield was instantly killed Friday afternoon about 4:15 o'clock when the machine he was driving was struck at the Enoch corner, 5 ½ miles NE of this city by an automobile operated by Mrs. Ethel Ray of this city. Mrs. Martha Foxworthy, wife of the victim; Eva Foxworthy, 16 his daughter and Miss Madonna Warren, 14 are in Culver Hospital seriously injured. Miss Norvella Record, 16 another occupant of the Foxworthy machine is at her home in the Darlington Road, also seriously hurt. Mrs. Ray was only slightly injured. Foxworthy was driving north on the Jesse Ward Road at the time of the accident, while the machine driven by Mrs. Ray was traveling west on the Darlington Road. A catalpa grove at the SW corner of the intersection of the two roads is believed to have obstructed the view of the Foxworthy machine from Mrs. Ray. The impact of the crash of the Ray car, a heavy sedan, against the Foxworthy machine, a lighter coach, threw the latter car across the road and turned it over, pinning Mr. Foxworthy and his wife beneath it. Ward Enoch, who resides close to the scene of the accident, called Superintendent of police Harrisan (sic) Young and Captain Fred Grimes of the local department. An ambulance was sent to the scene of the mishap by officers. When the ambulance arrived, Mrs. Foxworthy was crying for help beneath the car. Her husband was motionless. It took only a minutes investigation to establish that Mr. Foxworthy was dead. With the With the help of neighbors the officers lifted the car from the body of Mr. Foxworthy and from his injured wife. The Record girl had been taken to the home of her parents north of the scene of the accident. Mrs. Foxworthy, her daughter and the Warren girl were brought to Culver Hospital by the ambulance. Mrs. Ray had been taken to the home of Bert Dale, who lives east of the Enoch corner. Her injures were not serious. The Foxworthys were taking Miss Warren and Miss Record to their home north of the scene of the mishap. The children attend the local high school and each night were taken to their home by Mr. Foxworthy. A Clark girl had been let out of the car at her home on the Overcoat road only a few minutes before the fatal accident. A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Dale had been riding back and forth from this city with the Foxworthys, but Friday was confined to her bed by illness. Mr. Enoch the only eye witness of the accident, said that Mrs. Ray was traveling at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred. She applied the brakes to her car but was unable to bring it to a stop and prevent an accident. Mr. Enoch said that he did not believe Mr. Foxworthy saw the approaching machine. It was said, however, that Mrs. Foxworthy saw the Ray car bearing down on her husband's machine and screamed a warning that reached them too late. None of the victims of the accident were able to talk Friday night. The three at the hospital were said to be seriously injured. Miss Record, at her home on the Darlington road, sustained a broken collar bone and probably internal injuries. The Foxworthy machine was nearly totally demolished by the force of the impact and was knocked 20 feet. Mr. Foxworty's skull was crashed and death was instantaneous. Mrs. Ray, a teacher in the Darlington schools is the wife of George Ray, instructor in the local high school. She resides at 513 S. Walnut Street, this city. Attachesa t the hospital said Saturday afternoon that Mrs. Foxworthy seemed to be somewhat improved at that time although her condition was still "very critical." The two girls likewise were reported as improved. Mr. Foxworthy is well known throughout the county and in fact the entire state, as for the past several years he had driven harness horses in the various county fair events. Although his given name was Charles, he was generally known as "Gold, a nickname, the origin of which is obscure. Charles E. Foxworthy was born in Fountain Count 45 years ago, the son of Charles and Lottie Whitsel Foxworthy. Until 5 years ago he lived in and around Hillsboro, oving to this county only recently. He was married 3 times. His first wife met death from burns sustained when a gasoline tank in a Hillsboro restaurant exploded. His second wife was called by death. Surviving are the widow, Martha, two sons: Carlton, 21 of Kansas; Owen, 19 of Hillsboro; one daughter, Eva, 16 at home; one brother, Walter of Hillsboro and 5 sisters; Mrs. Jessie Harlan; Mrs. Elda Foxworthy and Mrs. Crystal Riley, all of Hillsboro; Mrs. Effie Swaim, Green Fork, Indiana and Mrs. Ethel Smith of Fithian, Illinois. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.