Boy is Killed in Auto Smash Two cars without lights meeting in head-on collision Tuesday night on the highway two miles north of Patterson resulted in the death of Alfred Signorotti, and an extremely close call for five other young people involved in the crash. Both cars were almost completely demolished in the impact and it seemed a miracle that more were not killed or seriously hurt, but the four boys and one girl in the cars escaped with but minor cuts and sprains. Signorotti was driving a Ford car with box back, accompanied by his sister, Hazel, and Verne Stark, going northward, while the other car, a Ford coupe, containing Chauncey and Frank Kraus and John Carter, was coming towards town. Carter, was coming towards town. Both cars had trouble with their lights and neither had them on when they met opposite the Van Ormer pump station. The meeting occurred just as the southbound Owl had passed and the glare and noise from the limited no doubt added to the difficulty of detecting the approach of the other car. Stark, in the Signorotti car, had his head turned when the crash came, watching the passing train, and it is doubtful whether Alfred saw the other car in time to make a motion before the crash. Kraus was able to swerve just a trifle so that the impact came on one corner of each car instead of the center or more fatalities would have been probable. As it was, both machines were crumbled up badly. From the reconstruction of the accident made by Dr. A. M. Field, after examining the remains he expressed the belief that Alfred must have hurled directly forward against the upper bracing of the car, the skull being badly crushed just over the left temple, while the left arm was broken in several places. Death mush have been instantaneous, he said. Verne and Hazel were hurled clear of the car, and while all involved were badly shaken up and sustained minor hurts, none were serious. En Route From Scout Meeting Alfred had been attending basketball practice early in the evening at the high school, being a member of the B class team, and then went to the Boy Scout meeting from which he was en route home when the tragedy occurred. Manuel Knutson, Scout Leader, saw him leave without lights and declared he had a curious premonition of danger ahead but dismissed it thinking that Alfred was such a careful and reliable boy that he would be all right with the car. The tragedy has been a shock to the community, as Alfred was a fine boy and esteemed in the highest terms by all who knew him. He had just passes his sixteenth birthday last month and was a freshman student at high school. Beside the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Signorotti, one other boy, Herbert, and his four sisters, Hazel, Alma, Rose and Laura, survive the deceased.

Death of J. M. Smith Huge Turnout Pays Last Tribute to Pioneer Merchant Joseph M. Smith, pioneer resident of California and of Patterson, passed away at a San Francisco hospital late Thursday night of last week, following an operation. Death was due to a complication of diseases, but he did not take to his bed until Monday of last week, after which his condition grew worse until he was rushed to the bay Wednesday. He rallied from the operation In excellent fashion and recovery was expected, but a sudden heart attack brought the end. Born in the Azores Islands in 1862, the deceased came to California with his family when but three years old, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, and has made his home here ever since, being 65 years of age at his death. The family settled In Mariposa county, and Mr. Smith grew up in a rugged life spent In large part in the high Sierras in farming, sheep raising and stage-driving, and he had many tales to tell of the early days. Later he went into the mercantile business in Merced, selling out after six years to come to Patterson in 1913, where he was among the early residents. He bought the Ellis-Hoffman store, which he built into a strong business, continuing until 1920 when he sold out to A. P. Jaderquist and retired from active business. He has been an officer of the peace in various capacities, best in Merced county and in Patterson and was also a guard at Folsom penitentiary for a time. He was one of the organizers of and the first Grand Knight of West Side Council, Knights of Columbus, and was also a member of the U. P. E. C. Probably no member of the community can count a greater number of friends than the deceased.. Innumerable acts of kindness and thoughtfulness have obligated many to him and he was of especial help to his fellow countrymen, who came to this section in large numbers many years later.