Smyrna times., 1877-08-29

One of our young townsmen, VIM. 3.
Collins, jr., now living in New York, had
his pockets robbed of so in money and his
gold watch and chain, one day last week,
whilst he was bathing at Coney Island
Beach. His clothing was locked in the
bath house at the time.
STATION HOUSE RoBBED.--The station
house at Clayton, was broken into last
Wednesday night. Two trunks in the
waiting room were smashed open and the
parties took what they wanted of the con-
tents, and scattered the remainder about
the room. From the ticket Office they OBJ
tanned about 81 in pennies, three coats. n
vest, and several hats. The value of the
articles taken from the trunks is not
known, but it is not supposed the loss was
very heavy. One OF the trunks belonged
to Miss Annie Taylor, of Crumpton, Md.
On Monday tramp who had been acting
as hostler at Carty's hotel was brought be-
fore Aldermen Budd but the evidence was
not deemed sufficient to hold him. lie
was held, however, upon the evidence of
another tramp who testified against him in
the depot case. This other tramp swore
that be robbed him of 90 cents and pair
of new shoes and other articles of clothing
The accused gave the name of John Lemon
and said he hailed from Phila. He was
| sent to Jail.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE SMYRNA BRANCH
RAILROAD.-Last Saturday morning, as the
Smyrna Branch train was backing into
town from Clayton at l.20, it struck anC
instantly killed John ITobson, of Blacks
toms Cross Roads. He was walking on the
track near Spruance's crossing, at the
time. He was old, (7l years. very dea
and nearly blind, and did not hear the
train as it came up behind him. Peopl,
walking between Smyrna and Clayton
always use the track for footway. Their,
is hardly ten minutes in the day that somt
one is not thus walking, and the train mel
did not think but that he (they did no
know him) would step off at the prope
time, like all the rest do. Seeing he die
not, however, every effort was made to stoI
the train, but without avail. An inQues
was held in the depot here in town tina
afternoon, by j. S. Taylor, deputy Coroner
and the jury, VIM. B. Collins foreman
rendered the following verdict:
John Hobson came to his death at about II ocloc
in the morning of Saturday the 25th of August, 1S7
by being run over by the train the Smyrna Branc
of the Delaware Railroad. And while we exonerat
the employees on the train do censure the Phila
vii. Il Bait. X. X. Co for allowing their employees
back their cars before the engine.
| There was tolerably strong feeling i
: some quarters against the management
the train in thus backing the car ahead {
the engine, but the train men say that ha
the engine been ahead it could not hav
/; changed the result. Still, it is very evider
,, that, for the general safety, it would b
E much better for the locomotive to alwa,
be ahead. The point made by til
R. R. Co. is that the track is not a publ
highway, and that pedestrians have real
, no right thereon, though the privilege
never questioned by the Company. NJ
}. Hobson's wife was away at the time, an
4 his remains were taken to the residence
e his son-in-law, Benz Hurloc%, in the ALE
d He was a good old man, and respected |
o all. He had lived around Smyrna mar
e years, and formerly run the Burnt Hou
farm at SmYrna Landing.