A fractured skull and other injuries caused by the accident were attributed as the cause of death, according to Dr. John J. Light, deputy county coroner, who was summoned hospital authorities following the woman's death.
Three hours after admittance to the hospital Mrs. Kreider succumbed to her injuries, according to attendants at that institution. She was admitted at 9:30 o'clock and was pronounced dead at 12:25 a. m. Sunday morning.
Nelson Moyer, city patrolman who happened on the scene of the accident almost at the time the woman was struck, was able to get the license number of the automobile after the driver failed to stop at the sound of the officer's whistle. Officer Moyer being unable to secure a machine immediately to give chase to the "hit-run" driver, turned to the injured woman and rendered assistance by securing a passing motorist to speed her to the Good Samaritan hospital.
Officer Moyer through the medium of the police teletype system was able to learn the name of the owner of the car bearing Pennsylvania license number 9F969. While police were making every effort to apprehend the "hit-run" driver, identification of the aged woman was being sought. Mrs. Ernestine Weber, secretary of the Associated Charities, appeared at the hospital, attendants stated, but was unable to identify the woman. Chief of Police Sealer also was unable to learn her identity.
Hospital attendants stated that not until almost up to the time of Mrs. Kreider's death was she identified.
Officer Moyer's report of the accident stated that Mrs. Kreider had stepped from the curb at the northeast corner of the intersection and was about to cross Seventh Street to the west side when she was struck.
The automobile, police reports stated, was traveling north on Seventh Street at the time of the mishap. Harry Bealer stated that Rittle, upon questioning at city hall Sunday morning, admitted he was driving the car that struck the woman and failed to stop to render assistance after hearing the police whistle.
Sealer said Rittle broke down completely and confessed. Rittle told police that he became excited and confused and continued on his homeward trip. Rittle told police he was in a moving picture show Saturday evening and about 9 o'clock pulled away from a parking space on Seventh Street near Willow to drive home. He admitted, Sealer stated, driving north on Seventh Street, and struck the aged woman.
Police reports stated that the right front fender of the car struck the pedestrian and knocked her backward, her head striking the street. Upon examining the car, Chief Sealer stated, there were no marks of any kind indicating that the machine was in an accident. However, Rittle told police that his right front headlight was not burning.
This was the fourth "hit-run" accident city police have investigated within a period of two months in Lebanon. Every one of the operators was apprehended by police.
After Rittle admitted that he was driving the car that struck the woman, police took pictures and fingerprints of the county man before committing him to the county prison.
Mrs. Kreider was the widow of John H. Kreider and a member of St. Mark's Reformed church. She leaves to survive two daughters, Mrs. Lewis Northeimer, Lebanon; Mrs. Raymond Moyer, of Sunnyside; one brother, Frank Wagner, and three grandchildren. Mrs. Kreider resided with her granddaughter, Mrs. Samuel Lutz, of 437 Spruce Street
Lebanon Semi Weekly News - Monday, February 4, 1935