Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
1845 - STAGE ACCIDENT IN EASTON.

As the Reading Mail Stage was passing down Ponfret (?) Street on Wednesday afternoon last, it ran over a little boy, son of MR. SIDNEY DOWN, of this place, aged about three years and a half, who at the time was in the act of crossing the street, in company with several other boys, in front of Mr. Bachman's Hotel, and instantly killed him. His neck was dislocated, and his head, arms and legs very much bruised and fractured. A Coroner's Inquest was summoned, who after hearing the testimony in the case, reported, "that they boy came to his death by being run over on Wednesday, July 16th, 1845, at about 6 o'clock, P.M., by the Reading and Easton Stage, while driven carelessly and at a rapid rate down South Pamfret (?) Street, in the Borough of Easton, and that the said stage was driven by JACOB WILLET."

WILLET was immediately arrested, and committed to prison, but has since been admitted to bail in the sum of $1,000, for his appearance at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer, to answer the charge of "manslaughter." This should be a warning to all persons who are in the habit of driving either fast or carelessly through the streets of our borough.

Jeffersonian Republican
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 24, 1845

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