The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-07
SHOCKING RAILROAD MURDER
THE ROCK ISLAND DEATH TRAP!
A Stranger Disemboweled and Crushed
to Death!

w ~S@VsA'
About 8 o'clock this. morning. among
the hacks going to the G. R. l. Il L. pas
senger depot in this city was one from
Davenport owned by Lorton Bros, and
driyen by VIM. Monsell, and containing
two travellers. AS it approached the tracks
oyer which it had to cross to get to the
depot freight train was going east on
the outside or south track. The driver
stopped, watched the train, waited until it
had passed and started over with his pas
sengers. When partly over the passenger
locomotive of the Western Union railroad
Frank Bliss engineer) backed down on its
way to the yard below for Capt. Martin
dale's train for Racine and Milwaukee.
The hack was nearly over when one man
Jumped from the hack and fell in front of
wheel of the tender and was showed down
the track, the tender barely grazing the
hind wheel of the hack which passed
safely over. The unfortunate man was
showed along on the track for % feet be-
fore any blood appears on the rail and then
for 10 feet more the rail is covered with blood
and torn clothing and entrails. He was
horribly crushed and completely disem-
boweled. As soon as he feel there were
cries to the engineer to stop and he did the
best he could to stop, but not until the
poor man was crushed and mangled and
broken and mboweled in horrible
manner. Some words were uttered.
by the poor man. which some
say were cries to take him off the
track, but they were indistinct. Neither
his head or his lungs were injured and he
breathed, in gasping way. for some time.
pr. Gregg. of this city, was called, but Of
course nothing could be done. DIR. Peek,
of Davenport, the c., r. l. & z. r. R.
physician was also called-also Coroner
Knox, who took charge of the body.
From letters found on his person it ap
pears that his name is j. B. Herdman, and
that he was travelling for Fay, Hazen &
, Co., dry goods, 447 Broadway. New York.
and n NJ. Sheperd, groceries, 20S Broad
way, New York. He had supply of the
business cards of these firms, and letters
t from each addressed to him, care New.
NIB House, Davenport He also had q
silver watch, pocket book, little money,
photograph of lady, and the usua
!; knife, comb, pencils, etc, which people
generally carry Also letter from the
secretary of tie Grand Lodge, Knights o.
Pythias, of Iowa, with blanks for petitions
for establishing lodges. The articles were
: taken from his clothes by Policeman Bren
!, nan, and Mr.. ?. D. Drake, of this paper
q and are in charge Of Coroner Knox.
> He was man, apparently about 80 o
i 50 years old, about feet inches tall
n sandy or red chin whiskers and moustach
It and wore respectable travelling clothes.
7. Coroner Knox called the following jury
: H. c. Cleaveland foreman, p. Gregg, /
z d. Woodruff, Jacob Wollenhaupt, NJ. Co
t Inns, l. H. kirkpatrick, c. ". Halves
e John Gamble, B. F. Knox, W. L. Swee
fney, j. f. Ankrum, Samuel Knox.
" The following witnesses were sworr
Thomas Crook; VIM. Munsell, driver; d.
p Gregg; Nick Schlaback; Geo. Mi2tcr.
- The home of the unfortunate man wa
s. at Fort Madison, Iowa. His parents resid
at at Wilmington, Delaware.
There was found on his body $54l3
:. money, and articles before mentiore
It Also travelling card of Fifth degree |. {
/; 0, +. He was District Chancellor Con
to mander X OF L. for Iowa. His commi
Y sion is signed by Hon. John W. Green,
at Davenport.
81 The jury returned the following verde
r. 1--WE, the undersigned Jurors, sworn to i
re quire of the death of j. B. Herdman, {
h oath find that he came to his death at Il
n; depot of the Chicago. Rock Island
K Pacific Railroad, through the carelessne
ar and want of judgment of the driver of Il
es hack, William Monsell. In which he VI
81 riding; that we absolve the engine
ofthe engine by which deceased was kille
'r- from any blame; that We declare the pre-
IS, ent location of the depot and the tracks
y, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ra
ot road a most dangerous and insufferat
p, nuisance, anG most earnestly request Il
60 company to abate the nuisance as soon
au practicable.
20, 70. Hon. John W. Green, of Davenport,
officer of the order, was present, and aft
n the coroner's duty ceased, claimed Il
let body, saying that he had an undertak
a and members of the order engaged to ia
charge of the remains Coroner KIN
very cu-tly said: II am an undertake
sir, and I'll take care of it.
Mr.. Green then came to this Office f
Mr.. j. s, Drake, another member al
ID. officer, and they returned Mr.. Knox. NJ
Drake asked kuox if he had conclud
bis inquest. and if, as coroner he had an
thing more to do. He said he was throul
and bad no more duties, as coroner, to pc
form. Mr.. Drake then asked him if
would deliver the body to the socie
friends of the deceased He replied tn
he would if the law required it.
Mr.. Drake-The law does require it.
Mr.. KNOX don't know; | will look
up.
Mr.. Drake-You do know that, und
The law, you have nothing more
- do with the body.
- Mr.. Drake then directed Mr.. Green
return TO Davenport and bring his undo