ASSALI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, September 04, 2010 at 07:22:47 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, September 8, 1921
Page 5

Boy Killed In Tomales Accident

The death of Arthur Assali, an 18 year old Santa Rosa boy, at Tomales early Sunday morning dampened the holiday spirit of the little town which was preparing for a festival that day.

Assali, it developed, met death when he was crushed between the machine driven by John Barella, of Bodega, and a telephone pole in front of Matteri’s Hotel. Barella, Cathol Johnson and Raymond Collins, also from Bodega, carried the boy into the hotel, where he passed away a few minutes later, the result of a basal fracture of the skull. Every effort was made by Dr. Graham who was called immediately, to save the boy’s life.

Barella, it was found be Sheriff J. J. Keating later in the day, hearing the comments of the bystanders, left the group and fled without apprising anyone that he was the driver of the car. He was found at Keys Grove by Sheriff Keating and admitted his part in the tragedy. He was not taken into custody, but was directed to appear at the inquest to be held in Tomales at 6:30 Monday evening, September 12.

Barella stated that young Assali, leaving the Town Hall, where a dance was in progress, climbed on the running board of the Barella car to go diagonally across the street for dinner at the hotel. A machine appeared, and in attempting to avoid a collision, Barella swerved sharply and collided with the telephone pole. Assali did not regain consciousness before he died. Coroner J. Ray Keaton took charge of the remains and sent them to the boy’s home at Santa Rosa.