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Rome Tribune-Herald, Thursday, January 6, 1916

Boy Fatally Injured By Auto Truck

Edward Townes, 5 year-old-son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Townes, Struck By Truck of Chero-cola Company, Driven by Proctor Bee; Accident Said To Have Been Unavoidable

Edward Townes, the five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Townes, was knocked down and probably fatally injured by an auto truck driven by the Rome Chero- cola Company, about 10 o'clock yesterday morning at Walnut and East Twelfth streets. The boy was hurried to the emergency hospital and an operation was performed, but his condition gave little hope for recovery. The left jawbone and left leg were broken and two deep wounds on the head are said to be fatal. Only one eye-witness of the affair has been found---a negro man. It appears that the little Townes boy, with other children was playing in the street, near a curve and when the auto truck rounded it, the driver sounding his horn, the boy and a girl companion tried to run across the street to get out of the way. The girl did so but the boy stopped, apparently undecided whether to continue to cross, or turn back, and was struck by the truck, which was being driven at moderate speed. The front of the truck struck the boy squarely but the driver stopped the machine before it could run over the child, although the front wheels did so.
The police investigated the affair but no case was docketed.