Daily Republican., 1883-07-26
FIT TIL EDITION,
DEATH On THE RAIL.
Decapitated ny q Freight Tr.,.
this Morning.

About 1918 o'clock this morning a.
Barney Mccall, George Brown. Levitt
Mingus and Richard johnson ws,,
walking up the P. W. e. h. RailroaI
toward the station, they saw a man WIN
seemed to be asleep, or in a stupor. law
ing across the track near the iom a
Justison street. A south-bouud ey,r
freight train, drawn by engine NJ. a
was hut a short distance off and rarNly
approaching, and although the me-,
made every effort to pull him from Nh
dangerous position the train was M
close and they were compelled to eav
him to his fate, and save themselves.
The engineer also saw the man, wien
it was too late TO stop, and althong h n.
engine was reversed and the brakes Nm
on, the train could not be stopped uir
two cars had passed over the unfOr,
nate man, and severed his head from
his body. The train was backed, and
the head WAS found where it had roa
between the tracks. The conlucot
Daniel Tray returned to the station and
obtained hand car manned by Special
officer Thomas, station master Hics
man. car inspect or William Sullivan
w. T. Day and Edward Leary.
But few minutes were CONSUMED ID
returning to the scene Of the tragedy
when the body was placed on the "a
and taken to the station apd removed
&c the dead house. Undertaken Panr
was Immediately notified and remoyc
il TO the morgue about l,3O O'Clock Tia
morning, where AN inquest was hri
about s'clOck, and verdict of accilepa
death rendered.
The man is about 80 years of az.
slightly built, and had a brown moas
tarhe, was about & feet u inches high /
and would weigh about $50 pounds, H.
wore Il black felt hat, caS>inere coat
striped pants, dark blue flannel ,lit
and brown overalls, nndernea'A Iii
pants, and a pair Of coarse, heavy slices
His breast and arms were marks
with India ink. Upon the breast v&a
rose with two leaves, inclosed in lis F
mond shaped border and the initial
"a. NJ. B." On both wrists were Ii |
dia ink bracelets, with clasped hand
| in front and a medallion containing !
wonan's head at the back, that on ii
right also containing a scroll on tl1
front with the motto Friendship
thereon.
On the right and left forearms wei
pictures of ballet girls and on the Ie
arm near tie shoulder the picture Of !
female cliuging to a cross.
His pockets contained tweed
nickel, some leaf tobacco, an adyrrl
ing card of Wanamaker Il Brown,
leather strap and a spool of twist
At the time the inquest was hta
there was no clue 10 his identity, Tut. 4
reporter Of the REPUBLICAN afterWa'l|
interviewed a companion ofhis, who va
brought, to the morgue by office
Thomas, and learned the following
facts: His name was John NJ. BenOA
and he was a bricklayer by trade, CG
had not worked at it for a long tim"
| He was IL native of Trenton, y, n
where he has brother in the TN Ea
ness, and his father was at one AtI
Marshal Of that city. Some years az
he was married, and was the ta'0s'1
one child, but has not lived with b.
wife for long time. In company VII
two others he arrived in this city yrat'
day, having been working at harv~f9
near Waynesborough, Pa, aud
party were on their way to WyoNN
/ where they expected to secure emp
ploymrur in the peach orchards, Il
ing wo, ,,d there last year.
One OF the men continued on GOV
the State, but the deceased and his 100
paniou determined to stop in thrGt
all night, and about 9 O'Clock wrrs
ting on large box at the foot OF oF'Is|
street. when Bennett proposed gong
another drink. As he already had aA'|
four large drinks of whisky, al" WI
intoxicated, his companion refuse
20 with him, and b. started ny hllnT'|
1t is supposed that he drank N,tl,-
. was completely overcome, and 'l'1
+ ither fell or laid down in the lla1
t where he came to his death. Inc \
!, mains will be kept in ice for u few Ga!l
to allow the relatives time to claim 'Av1
if they so desire.