JOHNSTON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, August 18, 2006 at 05:41:52 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, February 17, 1916
Page 1

Little Life Taken In Auto Accident

Little Fulton Johnston, the only son of Warden James A. Johnston of San Quentin, was instantly killed Tuesday afternoon near Kentfield station when he was struck by an automobile, owned by M. H. de Young and driven by Joseph Kotter, a chauffeur.

The boy, six years of age, had just come from the Kentfield school house and was waiting for his two little sisters, Muriel and Nellie, to join him. Pending their arrival he was playing in the road with Price Brownlee, the 6 year old son of S. P. Brownlee, the contractor. The Johnston automobile stood near in which the children were soon to be taken to their home.

Eye witnesses of the sad accident report that as the de Young machine approached the two boys darted across the street, and that, it being impossible for the auto to avoid the little fellow, he was knocked down. Death was instantaneous.

The de Young machine was occupied by Miss Phyllis de Young and Miss Doris Ryer, a nurse and two small children.

Sheriff Keating and District Attorney Butler were summoned and a thorough investigation was made , but after close questioning to determine the responsibility for the accident, they allowed Kotter to go.

The little body was turned over to Deputy Coroner J. R. Keaton, who also had been summoned, and taken to Coroner Sawyer’s office.

The funeral will be held in San Francisco at 10 o’clock this morning.

Warden and Mrs. Ida Johnston are heartbroken over the sad event, and have t he earnest sympathy of the whole community.