Persis Pryse Lynch
(Mrs. Benjamin L. "Ben" Lynch)
Lynch Pryse Wedding
Mr. Ben Lynch, of this place, and Miss Persis Pryse, a former school teacher in our high school, but until recently teacher of German and Latin in the high school of Colfax, Ill., were quietly married at the rectory of St. James Episcopal church, Chicago, Saturday evening at 5 o'clock, Dr. Stone, pastor, officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lynch are two well known and highly esteemed young people, and their host of friends extends congratulations and best wishes for a future life of happiness.This April 12, 1934, Lowell Tribune article appeared on page 1, column 6:
TWO KILLED INSTANTLY; MRS BEN LYNCH PASSED AWAY MONDAY; IN AUTO TRAGEDY
BEN LYNCH IN GARY HOSPITAL, BUT IS IMPROVING. WAS BADLY HURT.
An automobile accident that cost the lives of three people -- one from Lowell and two from Crown Point -- occurred north of Crown Point Sunday night.Miss Esther Hershman, daughter of Attorney and Mrs. George Hershman, and Attorney Irvin Rosenthal, both of Crown Point, were almost instantly killed and Mrs. Ben Lynch was fatally injured. Mrs. Lynch and her husband were taken to the sanatorium hospital, and after first aid was rendered by the doctors they were taken to the Gary M.E. hospital, where she passed away about noon Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Lynch were returning home from Gary, traveling south and the other car in which were riding the two who were killed and Alfred Rushton and Herbert Kahney of Crown Point, and Miss Elsie Schrelbeck, of East Chicago, was traveling north. The three latter were riding in the front seat of a roadster and Miss Hershman and Mr. Rosenthal were riding in the rumble seat. The cars came together head-on at Independence Hill.
Kahney was driving the car and the story that he told the Sheriff was that he came suddenly to a car parked on the pavement without lights and in order to avoid hitting it he swerved his car out into the left side of the road and in doing so he collided with the car driven by Mr. Lynch. The impact was terrific. Those riding in the front seat of the roadster saw that a collision was coming and braced themselves, but those in the back seat were caught unawares. Young Rosenthal was thrown clear of the car and landed on the hood of the Lynch car. Miss Hershman was thrown to the floor of the roadster and was jammed so tightly in the rumble seat that her body was removed after much difficulty. Her neck was broken and she was killed instantly. Young Rosenthal lived only a short time.
Mr. and Mrs. Lynch were riding in the front seat of their car, and Mrs. Lynch was thrown to the top of the car and her head struck an iron cross piece in the top of the sedan, fracturing her skill. She was then thrown to the bottom of the car and must have struck some of the levers in the car as her face was very badly crushed. She had one arm and one leg broken, and she was badly cut and bruised in different parts of her body. Mr. Lynch had no broken bones but he was struck in the breast by the steering wheel when it broke and he has a bad cut on his neck from broken glass. The latest word from his bedside is that he is gaining rapidly and may be expected home in a few days.
Mrs. Lynch's remains were brought to the Weaver & Son funeral home Monday afternoon. No final funeral arrangements have been made at this time.
There is much talk over the matter, both in Lowell and Crown Point, and it has about been established that there was no car standing in the road, and that the driver of the roadster was driving at a terrific speed and went to pass a car ahead of him and failed to see the Lynch car coming toward him until it was too late to avoid an accident. It is rumored that young Kahney may, when the Coroner's inquest is held, be held for manslaughter, but this is only rumor.
It is a very deplorable affair. Three lives have been taken, and the accident could have been avoided if due care had been taken by the one responsible for the accident. The sad affair has cast a gloom over Lowell and Crown Point that will take some time to dispel.
The following April 19, 1934, Lowell Tribune article appeared on page 5, column 1:
- Floyd Turner and Walter Brownell, of Valparaiso, and Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Black, of Crown Point, attended the funeral of Mrs. Ben Lynch here Tuesday.
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