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Note: Mitchell Tribune Mitchell, Indiana
May 16, 1946
Former Marine Killed Sunday
DONALD HARRIS MEETS DEATH IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON ROAD 60
Donald Harris, 21 recently discharged from service with the U.S. Marines, after serving 27 months in the Pacific area, was killed at 4 a.m. Sunday when the Ford coach in which he was riding, skidded on loose gravel and turned over on State Road 60, a few miles west of Mitchell.
With Harris was Robert Gilliatt, who was driving and Robert Short. They suffered minor injuries. According to their report, Harris attempted to get out of the car as it turned over and his head was caught in the door. His neck was broken and he suffered a possible skull fracture. Death was practically instantaneous.
State Police Sutton and O'Brien and Sheriff Hayes, with Coroner R. E. White (?) investigated.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from Day-Carter and Roach funeral home and burial took place in Green Hill cemetery.
Surviving are parents, Ralph and Doris Williams Harris; two sisters and three brothers. One brother, Wayne, recently enlisted in service and is now stationed at Camp Atterbury.
***
The Bedford Times Mail
Bedford, Indiana
May 13, 1946
DONALD HARRIS DIES INSTANTLY IN AUTO CRASH
Englewood Youth's Neck Broken As Car Overturns On State Highway 37
Donald Alan Harris, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Harris of 3337 Washington Avenue, (Englewood) received fatal injuries about 3:30 O'clock Sunday morning on State Highway 60 about a mile and a half west of Mitchell, when a 1937 Ford automobile owned by Guy Gilliatt, of Englewood, being driven west by his son, Robert Gilliatt, 19, and also occupied by Jerald W. Short, 21 of 1728 I street, overturned on a curve in the highway.
State Police and Sheriff Lester Hayes investigated the accident. They expressed belief that excessive speed caused Gilliatt to lose control of the automobile when it skidded on the curve.
Attended To Jump
Harris, the investigating officers were told, attempted to leave the machine as it started to skid. The car overturned as he opened the door to escape and he was pinned beneath the machine
After the body was removed from the wreckage it was taken to the Havery Mortuary in Mitchell where it was viewed by Dr. Ronald E. Wayne, Lawrence county coroner, who said death probably resulted instantly from a broken neck. The remains then were brought to the Day & Carter Mortuary in Bedford for burial preparation.
Gilliatt and Short told investigating officers that in company with Harris they left Bedford Saturday night, drove to the Green Lantern dance hall located on State Highway 37 about six miles south of Bedford, stopped there for a time, then drove to Four Points at the junction of Highways 37 and 60 where they also stopped. Leaving there they decided to drive to Shoals and were enroute there when the accident occurred.
Short Treated At Hospital
Gilliatt and Short were taken to Mitchell and later were brought to Bedford where Short was treated at Dunn Memorial Hospital for a minor back injury and a facial laceration, then was dismissed.
Gilliatt did not require medical attention. He is reported, however, to have suffered shock that temporarily left him in a semiconscious condition, but soon was revived.
The damaged automobile was towed to a Mitchell garage, State Police remaining at the accident scent to direct traffic until the car was removed.
State police released Gilliatt into the custody of his father with instruction that he later report to officials when summoned.
Coroner Wayne said today that an inquest into the accident probably will be delayed until Tuesday, due to Prosecutor H. Wayne Baker being engaged today in grand jury activities. The coroner added that he will await completion of the inquest before returning an official verdict.
World War II Veterans
All three of the young men involved in the accident are World War II veterans having received honorable discharges in recent months. Donald Alan Harris enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps, April 8, 1943, at Louisville, Ky., and served as a radar operator in the Pacific area of operations from July 29, 1943, to March 25, 1945. He received his discharge from service at Camp Lejune, North Carolina, February 5, 1946, with the rank of corporal.
He was born in Bedford to Ralph and Doris Williams Harris May 31, 1924. He was never married.
Survivors, besides his parents, are two sisters, Mildred and Rosalie, both at home; three brothers, Smith and George, both at home, and Wayne, who recently enlisted in the U. S. Army and is now stationed at Camp Atterbury; the maternal grandfather, S. V. Williams, of Indianapolis; the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Harris, of Bedford, and a number of uncles and aunts.
The body will lie in state at the funeral home until the funeral, arranged for 3:00 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Elmwood Chapel, with the Rev. Albert Corpening, pastor of the First Baptist Church, in charge. Burial will follow in Green Hill cemetery.
***
The Bedford Times Mail
Bedford, Indiana
Tuesday 14 May 1946
Death Car Driver is Fined In Court
Robert Wayne Gilliatt, 19, of Englewood, charged with reckless driving in connection with a fatal automobile accident one mile west of Mitchell early Sunday morning, entered a plea of guilty when arraigned before Judge Chester A. Davis in circuit court yesterday afternoon.
Following the guilty plea, Judge Davis fined Gilliatt $50 and cost, added a suspended 60-day penal farm sentence. The court also recommended that Gilliatt's driver's license be suspended for 90 days.
Gilliatt was driving an automobile, owned by his father, Guy Gilliatt, which overturned on a curve on Road 60. Donald Alan Harris, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Harris, of 3337 Washington avenue (Englewood), received fatal injuries in the accident.
***
Indiana, Birth Certificates
Name: Donald Allen Harris
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 31 May 1924
Birth Place: Bedford, Lawrence, Indiana, USA
Registration Year: 1924
Father: Ralph L. Harris
Mother: Doris Williams
Certificate Number: 26066
Roll Number: 011
Agency: Indiana State Board of Health
Volume Range: 51 - 55
***
Indiana, Death Certificates
Name: Donald Alan Harris
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 21
Birth Date: 31 May 1924
Birth Place: Bedford, Indiana
Death Date: 12 May 1946
Death Place: Rural Route, Lawrence, Indiana, USA
Marital Status: Single
Father: Ralph Harris
Mother: Doris Williams
***
U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans
Name: Donald Alan Harris
Birth Date: 31 May 1924
Death Date: 12 May 1946
Cemetery: Green Hill Cemetery
Cemetery Location: Bedford, Indiana
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