Highland County OhArchives Obituaries.....ARNETTE, KATHERINE October 12, 1943 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: JOAN ASCHE jasche45133@gmail.com August 21, 2006, 3:58 pm Hillsboro Press Gazette The Hillsboro Press Gazette October 12, 1943 Woman Fatally Injured Sunday; Two Men Held Katherine Arnett, 60, Hillsboro, R. R. 5, was fatally injured Sunday night when struck by a car while walking to Hillsboro to attend church. The mishap occurred shortly before 7 P. M., just west of the N. & W. railroad crossing west of the Hillsboro corporation line on U. S. Route 50. Miss Arnett was walking towards Hillsboro and was on the left hand side of the road and was facing approaching traffic. She was struck by a car operated by Willard Kessinger, 28, Hillsboro R. R. 5. The driver of the auto was accompanied by Harvey Ames, 48, negro also of R. R. 5. The two men were taken into custody at their homes between 7:15 and 7:30 P. M. by Sheriff Cleo Shaffer and Dr. W. M. Hoyt, Highland County coroner. When arrested the two men denied having any kind of intoxicating beverage to drink. Both men were removed from their homes to the county jail where they are being held on open charges pending a thorough investigation of the fatal accident. Kessinger informed Sheriff that he saw the woman walking along side of the highway and that she stepped in front of the car and threw up her hand presumably to “thumb” a ride, and that he stopped the auto immediately after the accident and rendered first-aid to the injured woman. The driver of the car told Sheriff Shaffer that Miss Arnett was walking west at the time of the accident. Kessinger also informed the Sheriff that a nurse, who was later identified as Mrs. Goldie Minch, Lynchburg, arrived at the accident scene and stopped to give first-aid. The driver of the car also claimed that he told Mrs. Minch his name and address and the continued home. Miss Arnett suffered numerous bruises and lacerations about the head and body. She was found lying in a ditch on the right-hand side of the highway. Her hat was found in the middle of the road. The body was removed to the Evans funeral home. Kessinger and Ames were both questioned by Sheriff Shaffer and County Prosecutor Eugene Hahne and told conflicting stories. Kessinger stated that he was not intoxicated and had had only two bottles of beer to drink earlier Sunday afternoon. Ames informed the questioning officers that they did not have any beer, but had several drinks of wine. He refused to tell where they obtained the wine. Both Kessinger and Ames admitted having lied to Sherff Shaffer and Dr. Hoyt earlier in the evening when they denied having had anything to drink. Kessinger claimed he was suffering from a “hang-over,” which was brought on by drinking wine and beer Saturday night. Kessinger first informed Sheriff Shaffer that he had spent the major portion of Sunday afternoon repairing a truck near Leesburg. He later stated that he had spent the afternoon in Hillsboro and had visited the East-End with Ames to see about a pump and a roof repair job. He denied knowing the name of the party he visited with his companion. County officials were convinced, after talking with Kessinger and Ames Sunday night, that both were holding back information. Miss Arnett is survived by two sisters, Anna and Grace, both of Hillsboro, R. R. 5 with who she resided. The Arnett sisters live one mile west of Hillsboro on U. S. Route 50. Additional Comments: Note: Katherine Arnett is buried in New Market Baptist Cemetery, New Market Township This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ohfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb