Bio: Syth, Marion (Inquest into her Death – 03 Apr 1939)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Syth, Lyon, Schwarze, Corey, Buker, Shields, Olson, Butterbrodt, Overman, Bradbury, Ludovic, Gwin

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 06 Apr 1939

The coroner's jury, composed of A.D. Lyon, foreman; Adolph Schwarze, Howard Corey, Rug Buker, Simon Schwarze and C.A. Shields deliberated only 20 minutes on Monday before reaching the conclusion that Marion Syth, 6 came to her death as a result of an unavoidable accident March 29, when she ran into the path of an automobile driven by Undersheriff Herbert Olson of Neillsville.

Six witnesses were heard and another trip was made by the jury to the scene of the accident, where she was injured as she ran across the pavement to the Eaton Center School.

Those who testified were Dr. Overman, Wm. Butterbrodt, who gave her a ride in his pickup truck, her sister Shirley, her father Arleigh Syth and Lewis Bradbury, Clark County Traffic officer. Herbert Olson waived his privilege of refusing to testify, but declined to answer questions relative to the speed at the time of the accident. He said that he had not driven over 45 miles per hour on his way from Neillsville to Greenwood.

A state law fixes the limit of 15 miles an hour in passing a schoolhouse. Testimony was introduced concerning the tire marks of a car which skidded 90 feet, but members of the jury agreed that these were old marks. Herbert was reported as having brought his car to a halt within a few feet after striking the child. Coroner P.C. Ludovic and Dist. Attorney Hugh Gwin conducted the inquest.