STAMFORD CRASH KILLS 3.

The New York Times
November 20, 1922

Two Others Injured—Owner Warned Against Driving After Dinner.

Special to The New York Times.

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 19.—Rudolf Sylvester, 26 years old, proprietor of a restaurant at 267 Pacific Street; Nicolo Giulfi, 26, of 265 Pacific Street, and Albert Robustelli, 32, of 86 Spruce Street were killed at 2 o'clock this morning when the automobile in which they were riding hit a tree in Bedford Street, between Hoyt and Oak Streets. Victor Ferrante, a former clergyman, was seriously injured and Michael Delia of 2 Greenwich Avenue was less seriously injured. Fears are entertained for Ferrante's recovery.

The party entered the car in Pacific Street, following a dinner at Sylvester's restaurant, and because of Sylvester's condition friends warned him not to drive his car. He paid no attention to the warning. The steering gear was in bad condition and Sylvester had been advised to have it repaired a week ago. The party started to take Ferrante home first. They sped through the centre of the city, passing a policeman at Bedford and Atlantic Streets at such a high rate of speed that he blew his whistle to warn them. Sylvester stepped on the accelerator and the car was going fifty miles an hour when the crash came, the police think.

"I begged him to stop and let me out," Ferrante gasped while his injuries were being treated. "The speed was something terrific. I knew he would meet with an accident."

There is a bend in Bedford Street at Hoyt Street, and Sylvester either did not try to steer around the curve or the steering gear failed, for the car took a direct line from a traveled path through a grass plot at the roadside and hit a tree.

The crash awoke the neighborhood and people ran out of their homes in response to the cries of the injured and dying men. The car, after hitting the tree, buckled and turned over. Sylvester and Giulfi were pinned beneath it and the others were flung in various directions.

Giulfi was instantly killed. Sylvester died on the way to Stamford Hospital. Their heads and bodies were crushed badly. Robustelli died an hour after arriving at Stamford Hospital. His neck was broken. Delia escaped with a few scratches and bruises. Ferrante's hips were broken and he is probably injured internally. All those killed were married.