Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-25
BRAKEMAN BEHEADED.

BRAKEMAN BEHEADED.
Terrible Fate of Webster Nichols--Knock-
ed Down by Switch Engine and His
Head Severed From His Body by the
Wheels of the Juggernaut-Fi Finding of
the Coroner's Jury.
A shocking accident occurred about
1915 o'clock yesterday morning in the
yard of the st. Paul & Manitoba Railroad
company, adjoining the freight house,
resulting in the instant death of young
man named Webster Nichols. The deceas-
ed was brakeman on the Eastern division
of the Chicago, ST. Paul Il Omaha, and
the accident which resulted in his horri-
BILE taking off is attributed to his own
oversight or negligence.
At the time named the deceased at
tempted to cross the main track of the
road, upon which an engine had been
standing for some time awaiting q signal
to back up.
The attempt was made just after an
outgoing train had passed, which prob
ably accounted for his not seeing the
engine which stood near the switch on an
inside track. The signal to back up must
have been given before he got on the
track, as he was not seen by the switch
man until after the accident While in
the center of the track couple of men
observed his peril and yelled for him to
look out. The warning was too late, for
ha
thrown under the trucks. The wheels
from the body.
An inquest was held at 1:30 o'clock
with the following jury:
B. w. Lott, c. G Kimball, N B. Church,
F. G. Burgess, J. G. Donnelly and H. G..
Dunno.
c. H. jerks.
Mr. c. II. jerks, conductor on the
Manitoba road, was the first witness.
Witness had seen the accident saw de-
ceased in center of track about 1915 A.
NJ; he was in front of engine No. 10 onthe
Manitoba railroad; it was about
six feet from him; it was back
ing up; he made grab at
the engine, but fell, aud went under;
witness yelled at him; the bell of the en-
CINE was ringing; after the engine had
passed over him witness ran up; he was
gaspiDg.
G.. W. DAY.
G. W. Day, an express messenger, was
sworn. Witnessed the accident; saw il
from his car door; train had just passed
by and an engine was standing on the
main track; deceased went to cross the
track as the engine started
witness cried to him and warned him tc
get off the track; it was about 10:l5
O'Clock; the bell was ringing
JOHN KILBANE.
John Kilbane, the engineer of No. 10
was then sworn. Witness had came down
from the shops; the engine backed down
within two or three car lengths of the
accident; they were waiting fol
the track to be cleared so as
they could get to their train
witness was engaged in watching the
movements of the trains; witness start
ed to back down when he heard Mr.
jerks cry out; supposing that the switch
was wrong he came to halt; Mr.. jerks
said a man had been run over; witness
did not see him until picked up; the de
ceased was too near the engine to be seer
ahead; the bell was ringing:
CHAs. MONTGOMERY.
Chas. Montgomery, fireman on engin
| No. 10, was the next witness sworn. HI
testified to substantially the same as III
former witness.
| CHAS. TAYLOR.
Chas. Taylor, car repairer, had seer
the engine back up and testified the bel
had rung.
j. NJ. BRADY
| j. M. Brady was sworn and testified
that the name of the deceased was Web
ster Nichols; thought he formally reside'
in Eau Claire; he was in the employ O
the company; he was brakeman on
passenger train.
| JOHN INQUIRE.
| John Mcclure, swltchman on the road
was the next witness. Engine No Il
had stood on the track t,
allow two trains to pass
| the track was clear when the signal wa
given for No. 10 to back up; there was n,
one on the track when the signal wa
given; witness had not seen the acci
dent
Mr.. Day was recalled. Witness seer
the signal given; at that time deceased
had not stepped on the track; he got OF
the track as the engine started.
| Mr.. Jones was recalled. Couldn't sa'
whether deceased was on track when tn,
signal was given; when witness first seer
| him he seemed to be standing.
THE VERDICT.
The jury found that deceased came t.
his death by being run over by engine
No. 10 on the Manitoba railroad, and tina
no blame can be attached to the road o.
its employees.
The deceased was about 81 years of agt
and unmarried. He has been braking fo
about six months and formerly resided a
Elroy His folks are supposed to live il
GAINESVILLE. The body is in charge O.
Met arthy & Donnelly.
Last evening the manager of thu
Chicago, St. Paul & Omaha road received
telegram from the father of the deceased
at Capron, Illinois, requesting that the
remains be forwarded. The company
authorized Mccarthy 6 Donnelly to pre-
pare the remains for shipment, and aftel
being dressed and encased in handsome
casket they were forwarded on the s:0i
O'Clock train last night.
SUPREME COURT.