Nine-year-old Annie Stanakia was struck and killed by a car after allegedly fleeing from a man who had been chasing young girls near Fairfield Avenue, witnesses testified before Coroner Phelan.
Frightened By Man — Girl Ran Into Machine
That she was frightened by a man who has been chasing girls and women near Fairfield Avenue and Mountain Grove Street, was the explanation given today before Coroner Phelan for the sudden rush into the street by Annie Stanakia, who was struck and killed by an automobile last Tuesday night.
The victim was nine years old.
Emily Shemsis testified that for the past two years a man, about 45 years old, of stocky build and who has a dark mustache, has been annoying girls in that section of the West End where the witness lives.
The witness said she heard another girl say that Annie Stanakia was frightened when this mysterious man tried to seize her and she attempted to run across Fairfield Avenue.
The Stanakia girl ran in front of an automobile driven by Michael Haroskie of Green Farms, who is employed by Dutee W. Flint, an automobile dealer of Golden Hill Street. He testified that he was driving slowly but did not have time to stop the machine because the girl rant out suddenly from the rear of a trolley car.
Judge Thomas C. Coughlin, counsel for Haroskie, said his client was not guilty of any negligence.
The coroner sent for the other witness who is alleged to have seen the mysterious man chasing Stanakia. The police department will also investigate this feature of the case.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 08 Jan. 1920.
