Salt Lake Telegram | 1937-12-27 | Page 1 | 500 Violent Deaths Recorded in U. S. Christmas Celebrations

500 Violent Deaths Recorded In U. S. Christmas Celebrations Traffic Accidents on Double Holiday Push National Toll Above Normal By Associated Press . Violent death claimed at least 500 lives as the nation's price for one of its most extensive Christmas celebrations in years. The double holiday, crowding highways with an unusual burden bur-den of homeward-bound travelers, swelled the toll above normal years. Traffic accidents caused many times as. many deaths as any ether cause. But weekend merrymaking was also cut short by gunfire, hanging, suffocation, burning. poisoning, drowning, plane crash and fatal household accidents. While millions feasted in cheer, at least 14 men and women died in despair at their own hands. There were M homicides. 28 by shooting and two by stabbing. Illinois led the nation with 50 deaths. . Pennsylvania followed I with 41, Ohio 33. California JO. In Kentucky 22 persons died violently, vio-lently, including five by gunfire, one by stabbing and one killed In the explosion of a dynamite cap. Two were killed la a Texas plane crash. Eight negroes lost their lives when a motor car plunged through a bridge guard near Chinquapin, N. C, and overturned in the Northeast North-east river.