Inquest To Be Held Tonight

CHEHALIS, July 8. - An inquest into the death of John E. Sears of Mayfield, who died following an automobile accident near Packwood Saturday evening, will be held this evening at 7 o'clock at the Randle schoolhouse, it as announced today by Prosecutor James E. Sareault.

The inquest will be conducted by Coroner W. D. Turner.

Sears' death came after he is said to have been struck by a car driven by Robert Fritsch, about 30, of Randle, who was booked on a charge of reckless driving, later being released in $500 bail.

According to Prosecutor Sareault, Sears died almost immediately after he was struck by Fritsch's machine. He had been standing on the left side of a car and was talking to Mike Stacey, also of Mayfield, who was sitting in the driver's seat. Fritsch's car is said to have crossed to the left side of the road, striking the Stacey machine and carrying Sears' body nearly 50 feet along the road.

The accident occurred about five miles west of Packwood.

Source: The Centralia Daily Chronicle. Friday, 8 Jul 1938, p. 8.

Transcribed by Jenny Tenlen, who has no further information.