Side swiping a telephone pole on North Elm street, about 150 feet from Second street, yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock, the presumed losing control of the car with the result that it was turned completely over, H.L. Clapp of this city, Frank Helson, Anton Carson, and Emil Kantoo, employed by the George Fuller Construction company, engaged in the erection of the Jefferson Standard building, were pinned under the car.
H.L. Clapp was so severely injured that he died shortly after being removed to the St. Leo’s hospital in the automobile of J.T. Cobb, 1133 North Elm street. Frank Helston was slightly injured and after being removed from the car he made a hasty retreat. He was later arrested by police officers and is now confined in the city jail with a charge of murder against him. Anton Carson was cut about the face and after his injuries were dressed at the St. Leo’s hospital where he, together with Emil Kantoo, were removed in the Poole and Blue ambulance, was discharged. Kantoo was more seriously injured, the flesh on the back of his neck being badly scalped. Should it develop that his skull is not fractured, hospital authorities are confident that he will recover.
Helston Planned to Leave
At police headquarters last night it was stated that Helston, driver of the car, was at his home on Forbis street prepared to leave the city for New York. He had changed his clothes. Immediately after he was removed from the wrecked machine with his clothes smeared with mud, Helston made his getaway. It was said at the police station that Helston had remarked to Carson that he was going to quit his job with the George Fuller Construction company and leave immediately for New York. But the police department broke up his plans and now he is confined in a cell to answer a charge of killing H.L. Clapp.
All occupants of the car were employes of the George Fuller Construction company. It was stated last night that Mr. Clapp was carpenter foreman; Frank Helston, concrete foreman; while Anton Carson and Emil Kantoo had been working for the company for about one week. Helston has been with the company since taking over the construction work in the city. With the exception of Clapp, all were foreigners. Frank Helston gave his address as that of New York. It is not known where the others lived.
Eye witnesses of the accident proclaimed that the machine, a Ford touring car, was traveling at a rapid rate of speed northward on North Elm street. Emil Kantoo and the dead man, H.L. Clapp, were seated in the rear seat while opposite Helston, who was operating the machine, was Anton Carson. While directly opposite the home of J.T. Cobb, the machine side-swiped a telephone pole, broke it off and knocked it a distance of about three feet. Witnesses stated that the car then zig-zagged, skidded and turned completely over on Second street, about 150 feet from where the machine struck the pole.
Cobbs Witnessed Accident
J.T. Cobb and Clyde B. Cobb remarked that they saw the machine topple over and that they immediately rushed to the scene of the accident. J.T. Cobb stated that he and his son ripped off the top of the car in order to get the men out of the pile of wreckage. He stated that he noticed Clapp breathing and that he immediately got his machine and hurried him to the St. Leo’s hospital. Mr. Cobb remarked that Emil Kantoo showed no signs of life and that he left him there for dead. The Poole and Blue ambulance was immediately summoned and carried Kantoo and Carson to the hospital. Helston, after removal from the car, took to his feet and was later taken into custody by the police.
According to Mr. Cobb it is believed that Clapp was seriously injured as the result of the car striking the telephone post as practically all the bones in his body were broken. When Mr. Cobb and his son reached the car, the machine was still running. After the wrecked automobile was placed up right the motor was cut off by Clyde B. Cobb.
The automobile was practically demolished, one wheel being smashed, the fenders completely destroyed, as were the seats and sides of the car. Where the automobile turned turtle on Second street, a few feet from North Elm street, there was considerable mud as the result of recent rains.
Helston Gives Version
Police officers stated last night that Helston, the driver, gave his version of the accident. According to him, the striking of the telephone pole came as the result of his driving too close to the curb in order to allow another machine to pass. He also stated that after the telephone pole was struck, the car skidded and that he put the machine in reverse.
Mr. Cobb, who witnessed the accident, gave a different version of the fatality. He stated that there was no one approaching and that Helston evidently lost control of the machine. When asked as to whether the men had been drinking, Mr. Cobb remarked that he could not swear to the fact, but that liquor was smelled on the breaths of the men.
At the police station it was also stated that the men had evidently been drinking. Police officials remarked that Frank Helston was arrested about one week ago on a drunk and disorderly charge and that he had been fined $5 and the costs of the case.
H.L. Clapp, who died as a result of injuries, was 65 years of age and had been a resident of this city practically all his life. His wife, nee Miss Ada Wilson, preceded him in death about eight years. Mr. Clapp had boarded at the Deaver House, 116 1/3 West Market street. He was a member of the Friedens Lutheran church and was well known throughout the county as well as in the city.
Six children survive him, Lee Clapp of White Oak, chief electrician for White Oak, Proximity and Revolution mills, Leslie and Carl Clapp of Greenville, S.C., Peter, in the United States naval service, Mrs. Mary McPherson of Winston-Salem, and Mrs. Minnie Bain of White Oak. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Mary Greeson, and two brothers, Cornelius and John Clapp, all of whom reside about six miles east of this city.
The Funeral Tomorrow
The funeral will take place sometime tomorrow with services at the Mount Pleasant church. Complete funeral arrangements had not been completed last night. A.E. Bunkemeyer met his death practically in the same spot about three years ago.
About one month ago the car in which Mrs. Lena Dick, nurse for the Church by the Side of the Road, was struck by an approaching automobile, and she was slightly injured.
Immediately after the accident yesterday crowds began to visit the scene where the car remained until shortly before 7 o’clock when it was removed to the Gate City garage. Practically all citizens who heard of the accident were particularly interested as many telephone calls were received at this office asking for information about the fatal mishap.
From the front page of the Greensboro Daily News, Dec. 18, 1922
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