“Charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol were filed by police today against Richard Frazier, 24, of Rushtown Rt 1, as a result of a smashup Friday night which tool the life of a 28-year-old widowed mother of four children and hurled a 4-year-old child into the street.”
“The victim was Mrs. Edyth Allen, 28, of 545 Front Street, a passenger in Mr. Frazier’s auto. She was dead on arrival at Portsmouth General hospital, suffering a fractured skull.”
“Mr. Frazier, an employee of the Empire Steel Corp. at Mansfield, was treated at the hospital for scratches on his head and face. He was scheduled to be dismissed today.”
“Mrs. Allen’s death was the 10th in Portsmouth and 22nd in Scioto County attributed to traffic during 1947. The addition shot the year’s fatality mark to a new five-year high with four and a half months remaining.”
Auto Hits Tracks
“The fatal crash took place at 9:19 PM in front of 132 Second Street, where Russell Walzine, 25, of St. Albans, West Virginia, had parked a truck. Witnesses told police Mr. Frazier’s car hurtled through the Scioto river bridge toward the city at a ‘high rate of speed.'”
“The car failed to make the turn from the bridge into Second Street and crashed into the truck on the south side of the street. The impact pushed the heavy vehicle into the building at 132-134 Second Street, owned by James Doerr.”
“Four-year-old Carolyn Russell, only occupant of the truck at the time, was thrown onto the street when the auto struck. She suffered mild shock and minor abrasions and was treated at General hospital by Dr. Chester H. Allen. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Russell of Brouse’s Run.”
“Lynn’s ambulance took the victims to the hospital.”
“The crash was investigated by Police Lieutenant Albert Bailey, Patrolmen Homer Albrecht and James Conroy and state highway patrolmen. Mr. Frazier told them he and Mrs. Allen had been on the West Side and were returning to Portsmouth.”
Vehicles Damaged
“Police reported the Frazier auto was damaged badly with the front end pushed in. The truck, owned by Earl Russell of St. Albans, also was damaged considerably.”
“Two charges of reckless driving were filed in two other traffic cases Friday.”
“Richard Smalley, 31, of Huntington, was arrested after the car he was driving collided with a parked truck headed east on Route 73 at Locust Grove, State highway patrolmen said he was driving west and hit the front end of the truck, owned by Samuel Heinze, 63, of Peebles Rt 4. Mr. Heinze was not in the truck at the time of the accident.”
“Mr. Smalley was fined $10 nd costs by Justice of the Peace Roy Hamilton of Peebles.”
“An automobile driven by Merle Baugh, 19, of Springfield, and a tractor-trailer driven by Malcolm Campbell, 16, of Lucasville Rt 2, collided a short distance north of Lucasville on US Route 23.”
Fined By Justice
“Mr. Baugh was arrested and fined $10 and costs by Justice of the Peace AJ Williams of Lucasville. State patrolmen said both were driving south on Route 23 and Mr. Baugh tried to pass Mr. Campbell at the time of the accident.”
“Arrests for traffic violations included: Hobert Mullins, 31, of South Shore, charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and Frank Anderson, 54, of Fullerton, charged with leaving the scene of an accident.”
“Mrs. Allen was born April 23, 1919, in Lewis.”
“She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Mary Bloomfield of Marblehead, Ohio; two daughters, Christine and Maxine Allen; two sons, Willard and Arnold Allen; five brothers, Savel Bloomfield of Portsmouth, Alonzo, Ithel, Wayne and Harold of Marblehead, and a half-brother, James Richfield of Marblehead.”
“Her husband, Willard Allen, preceded her in death last September.”
“The body will be at Lynn funeral home from 3 PM Sunday until 10 AM Monday when a private funeral service will be conducted. Burial will be in Larkin Cemetery.”1
Certificate of Death for Edith Allen2
The Headstone of Edith Allen at Larkin Cemetery in West Portsmouth, Ohio.
- Mother of 4 is County’s 22nd Traffic Victim. (1947, August 16). Portsmouth Times, 1–5.
- “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QR4-HLK?cc=1307272&wc=MD9F-CNL%3A287602401%2C294602101 : 21 May 2014), 1947 > 50601-53500 > image 2866 of 3198.
