WEST, Dorothy L. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Dorothy L. West, six year old daughter of Dr. BF West of 4759 14th Avenue northeast was run down and dragged 20’ by a motorcycle drive by George W. Dulin, 23 years old, at 14th Avenue northeast and East Fiftieth Street at 6:230 o’clock last night.  An examination of her injuries at Minor Hospital a few minutes later revealed a fractured skull.  She died at 12:40 o’clock this morning.  Rate of speed disputed – Dulin, witnesses say was traveling at a high rate of speed.  In his own report to the police he asserts he was traveling 20 miles an hour.  He was going north on 14th Avenue northeast when Dorothy with her two sisters, Irene and Ruth started across the street.  Dulin says he slowed up and sounded his horn as they started across the street.  Dorothy was in front of the other girls. She stopped and half turned as if to speak to the little girls with her.  Dulin says when she did this he threw in his clutch and started up the street again.  At the same time Dorothy wheeled about and started for the curb.  Dulin turned toward the curb, but was traveling too fast to avoid a collision with the girl.  The front wheel of the motorcycle struck her, knocked her to the pavement and the pedals of the machine dragged her 20’.  Dorothy was rendered unconscious. She was sent to the Minor Hospital and Dr. West was notified at once and went to the hospital.  Dr WM McKinney decided the only chance to save her life would be an immediate operation.  She suffered from a fracture of the skull and the brain was injured.  Dulin was taken to the police station where he made his report of the accident.  He was booked on an open charge and is being held in the city jail pending the outcome of Dorothy’s injuries    --- transcribed by  kbz

George W. Dulin, driver of the motorcycle that ran down and fatally injured Dorothy West, six-year-old daughter of Dr. BF West, Wednesday night was released from the city jail yesterday on a $500 bone, pending the outcome of the coroner’s inquest this morning. Dulin will be represented by counsel.  No charge has been preferred against him.  Photographs and measurements of the spot where the accident occurred have been prepared by the police department for use as evidence.    --- transcribed by  kbz

Aroused over the latest tragedy of speed mania, the death of little Dorothy West,  six years old, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. BF West, more than three hundred residents of the Universe branch of the Public Library East 50 th Street and Ninth Avenue northeast characterized the killing of the little girl as an act of criminal carelessness demanded of the mayor, the chief of police and the city council adequate protection of the lives of their little children, urged the automobile ordinance and insisted upon a revision of the present speed ordinance and the conviction of all offenders.  That the officials of the city and county are realizing the public demand for protection from the speed-crazy motorcyclists and automobile drivers was evidenced yesterday by an order issued by Chief of Police Claude G. Bannick to the entire police force that unless strict attention were paid to the arrest of violators of the speed limit there would be wholesale dismissals from the force and by the act of Prosecuting Attorney John F. Murphy in moving for a thorough investigation with a view to possible criminal action against George W. Dulin, the motorcyclist who ran down Dorothy West.  Dulin is held by the police on $500 bail pending the outcome of this investigation.  The number of complaints of continued violations of the speed ordinance which daily come into police headquarters, however, has not lessened in spite of the fact that public opinion had become aroused.  Within a short time yesterday four complaints from different parts of the city were recorded.

Following is the resolution adopted : Since the death of Dorothy West is but the most recent of similar acts of criminal carelessness upon the part of motor-drive vehicles, the residents of the University district deem the time has arrived to demand that the mayor, the chief of police and the city council provide adequate protection to the lives of our children and ourselves.  To this end we therefore urge: The immediate provision of sufficient police officers to enforce the law regulating the speed of motor-driven vehicles and to insure prompt punishment for the violation of such laws.  We urge immediately    --- transcribed by  kbz

Fired with indignation over the death of Dorothy L. West, six-year-old daughter of Dr. BF West, a retired missionary living in the University district members of the faculty of the University of Washington have called a mass meeting to be held tonight in the University branch of the public library,  fiftieth street and ninth avenue northeast to protest against the speeding of motorcycles in the city.  A petition circulated yesterday by Prof. HG Byers, head of the chemistry department of the university and Prof HK Benson received at the faculty club forty signatures.  Armed with this petition which called upon the city authorities to take some action against careless driving of motorcycles, the two professors waited upon Mayor Cotterill and Chief Bannick and asked that some definite action be taken in the matter.  Dr. West has two other daughters, the elder, Miss Ruth West was graduated from the university two years ago.  It is claimed that motorcycles are not only run about the district in the streets at furious speed but that they are driven over the sidewalks.  One woman said last night that she was forced to pull her child off the sidewalk a few nights ago to keep her from being run down by a motorcycle which was being driven at a rapid rate along the walk.  NOTE: there are several articles in the Seattle Post regarding people being struck by motorcycles, etc. That the chairman of this committee appointed of three to present these resolutions support of the press and all community gatherings.  And that the secretary of this committee appoint a committee to the city and to solicit the support of the press and all communing.  George W. Dulin, the motorcyclist who ran down Dorothy West.  Dulin is held by the police on $500 bail pending the outcome of this investigation.  The number of complaints of continued violations of the speed ordinance which daily come into police headquarters, however, has not lessened in spite of the fact that public opinion has become aroused.  Within a short time yesterday four complaints from different parts of the city were recorded.  More on this affair including the hundreds who joined a protest in Seattle and the demand for protection.  Seattle Post Intelligencer Sat April 5, 1913 p 10

West – Dorothy L, aged 6 years old daughter of Dr. and Mrs. BF West  4759 14th Avenue northeast.  Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. at the University Undertaking Parlors, 4214 14th Avenue northeast. Cremation.    --- transcribed by  kbz