GEORGIA: Memories of Peachtree Street

A Fulton County jury sat in Atlanta’s county courthouse last week to consider the death of the famed author of Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell.

John R. Marsh, her husband, told how a careering car ran her down as they were crossing Peachtree Street on the night of August II. “That is something I saw and I am afraid I will see the rest of my life,” he said in a low voice.

Hugh Gravitt, a slight, nervous taxicab driver with a record of 22 previous traffic offenses, also testified: “This accident which happened was unavoidable. I see her everytime I go to bed and I said then and I still say I would rather it to have been me than her.”

The jury found Gravitt guilty of involuntary manslaughter, recommended a year to 18 months in jail (he will be eligible for parole in four months). The judge let Gravitt go free for a week before sentencing.

Next night, Hugh Gravitt smacked his car, the same one that killed Margaret Mitchell, into a truck just outside Atlanta. He was not hurt seriously.