Person:Frederick Long (1)

   ****    RECORD   OF  FUNERAL    ****  No. 64

Name; Fredrick Harvey Long - R.# 1, Benzonia, MI. Date; July 15, 1950 Time; 3:05 a.m. Place of death; Markham Momerial hospital, Frankfort, MI. Sex; M. Age; 12y 5m 15d Race; W. Born; Jan. 31, 1938 - Place; Benzonia Twp. "student" Father; Harvey Long Born; Benzonia, MI. - Mother; Mina Caswell - Born; Reed City, MI. Cause; Ruptured Liver: hit by auto Burial; Benzonia Twp. cemetery, Benzie Co., MI. Survived by; Parents; three sisters, Susan 14, Dona Jean 6, Barbara 5, one brother Robert 11. Funeral; July 18, 1950 2 p.m. Beulah Tabernacle - Rev. A. J. Clough, Beulah, MI. Bearers; Arthur Lenhardt; Leslie Gray; Douglas Richards; Allen Caswell Corner & Director; Geo. A. Bennett special remarks; Card # 471

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       ****    DEATH   RECORD    ****  Benzie  Co., Government  Center, Beulah, MI.

Benzie Co., Death Records; Bk.; 1950 Rec.; 17 Date; July 15, 1950 Name; Frederick Harvey Long Sex; M. Age; 12 yrs. Race; W. Place; Frankfort, MI. Born; Jan. 31, 1938 Place; Beulah, MI. "student" Father; Harvey Long Born; Benzonia, MI. - Mother; Mina Caswell - Born; Reed City, MI. Cause; Ruptured Liver: hit by auto Burial; Benzonia Twp. cemetery, Benzie Co., MI. Benzie County Clerk

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Benzonia Library Mills Community House; Benzonia, MI. Benzie Banner; 1950 ---- Researched; Nov. 4, 1998 Jul. 20,- "DRINKING DRIVER NABBED AFTER KILLING 2 CHILDREN IN HIT - RUN ACCIDENT - Pg. 1" In the first traffic fatality in Benzie county this year, two children died after they had been struck by a truck as they rode along US-31 on bicycle south of Benzonia Friday evening. Marybelle Long 8 died enroute to the Anna Markham hospital. Her brother, Fred, 12, lived only until the following morning. They were the children of Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Long who live within half a mile of the scene of the accident. Driver of the truck was Don Mathew, 40, of Beulah, who fled from the scene and later admitted, when traced by Sheriff Fay Bryan, that he had been "drunk and scared." Arraigned before Justice Leonard Case Monday on a charge of involuntary man-slaughter, he demanded examination which was set for Friday, July 28, at 9:30 a.m. He was held in the county jail when he failed to furnish a $5,000 bond. Walking along the highway near the two children at the same time of the accident was their cousin Ida Marie Long, 11 daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Alton Long, an it was through information she was able to supply to sheriff's officers, coupled with the report that Mathews' truck had passed through Benzonia southward at high speed a few minutes prior to the accident, that the hit - run driver traced. Mathews stopped after he had struck the bicycle, but drove on almost at once when the screams of the children "scared him," according to his story to officers. It is suspected that someone else was with him in the truck at that time, although this has not been proven. He had drunk nine bottles of beer, he said, having visited taverns in Copemish, Thompsonville and Beulah. Surviving the two victims besides their parents are; three sisters, Susan, 14 Donna Jean 6, and Barbara, 5 and a brother, Bobby, 11. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Wesleyan Methodist church in Beylah, with Rev. A.J. Clough officitaing. Sept. 21,- "DON MATHEWS CASE SLATED FOR CIRCUIT COURT" ----- With the October term of Benzie circuit court set for Monday, October 2,, a list of jurors has been drawn to hear the negligent homicide case against Don Mathews of Beulah, in the event that his plea on arraignment is not guilty. Mathews, who is charged with being the driver of a truck which ran down and killed two children on US - 31 south of Benzonia on the evening of July 14, has indicated he would demand trial. The children who died in the accident were Marybelle Long, 8, and her brothr Fred, 12. The jury list includes; Eber Goin, Glenn Root, Fred Pennell, John Fitzner, Dwight Butler, Paul Rosa, Joe Alberts, Lois Upton, Frank Mills, James Dymond, William Schwinne, George Flynn, Alice Lindgren, Lawson Arnett, Joe Davis, Leola Rogers, Mason Howard, Jud. Andrews, J.C. Monroe, James Tanner, Glen Michael, Floyd Woirel, Harry Vincent, Joe Clark and P.W. Hanks. There may also be a civil suit on the docket that will go to jury. Sept. 28, - Donald Mathews Jailed, Bond is Revoked For Driving Without License; Within ten days before he was to answer to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in a traffic accident involving the death of two children, Don Mathews 40, was taken into custody and his bond revoked after sheriff Fay Bryan had found him driving a car on the highway despite the fact that his license had been suspended. The arrest made late Saturday night as Mathews drove away from a tavern near the south county line, followed reports to Prosecuting Attorney Seward F. Nichols that Mathews had been seen driving his car as usual and also doing considerable drinking. He had been given his freedom under bond of $2,500 to appear in circuit court next Monday. Mathews admitted to officers that he was drunk when a truck driven by him struck and killed two children, Marybelle Long, 8, and her brother Fred, 12. He also admitted fleeing the scene of the accident. His bond was first set at $5,000 but was cut in half later in order to avoid keeping him in jail over the eight weeks until the next term of court. He is in jail now awaiting the convening of the court. Oct. 5, - Mathews Draws 2 Years in Prison Plus $750. Fine. A sentence of 23 monthe to two years in state prison, plus a fine of $750. and court cost of $125. was the penalty meted out to Don Mathews, 40, by Judge Howard L. Campbell Monday in Benzie county circuit court. Mathews pleaded guilty to a charge of Negligent homicide in the death of two children run down by his truck early in July. Although the sentence was considerable, many had expected an even more drastic prison term, in view of the fact that Matthews had admitted being drunk at the time of the accident and had also fled from the scene. He had also laid himself liable to the court censure by driving a car later, while free under bond, even though his license had been revoked. Mathews had originally been charged with involuntary manslaughter and had indicated he would refuse to plead guilty and would demand a jury trial. The lesser count of negligent homicide was agreed upon by the court when he said Monday he would plead guilty to that and the trial could be dropped. Entry date; Jan. 17, 1999

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