The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-10-09

Drought 10 LDo city anu prepared Tor In
terment. The coroner's inquest was
held before Justice Payne, the testimony
and verdict being as follows:
The first witness,
HOMER YATES,
engineer of the extra freight, No. 24O,
stated that the accident occurred at 4 AS
a. IN, about half mile east of the
junction. Uf the Santa Fe and the
Missouri Pacific. The name of the de-
ceased was Josiah e. Scott, q fireman,
and was last seen alive sitting on the east
box on the left side of the engine. After
the accident the body was lying under
the tank, with nothing to indicate life.
The body was found about fifteen min
utes after the accident, The cause of
the accident was the placing on the
track OF a tie by some unknown party or
parties.
The second witness,
DIR. L. d. JACOBS,
testified that he was physician in EN-
poria, and said the condition of the body
when found was that the face was COW
cred with dirt. Upon examination he
found large scalp wound on the left
sid of the head, at which place there was
fracture of the skull. He found the
side of the chest depressed and six or
seven ribs fractured. He found the
bones OF both the legs and the body con-
fused in various places. Death was
caused by these injuries.
The third witness,
c. II. BARTHOLOMEW,
conductor of the train was in the way
car. This was not thrown off the track.
Last saw the deceased alive at Usage
City. When the body was found under
the tank, there were no signs of life.
The cause of the death was the tank
falling upon the body. The rate of
speed was fifteen or eighteen miles an
hour. The cause of the wreck was tie
placed upon the track by some unknown
person.
The fourth witness,
A. G. HACKETT,
brakeman, at the time of the accident,
was sitting on the fireman's seat, and
last saw Scott alive when he had finished
firing. 1t was moonlight when the body
was found, torch being lighted after
ward. Cause, tie being placed upon
the track by some unknown person or
persons.
The fifth witness,
SAMUEL s. MCCORMICK,
at the time was in the way car. He last
| the body under the tank at the same
time the enginee found it. Cause, tie
placed upon the track by some unknown
person.
Question OF juror-"How was the tie
placed when found?"
"LengthwIse; tor if ii had been across
the track, the guard would have thrown
the tie off. Nine cars went of the track
1t looked as though Scott was dragged
twenty-five or thirty feet under the tank
Following is the coroner's verdict:
STATE OF KANSAS, !
LYON COUNTY. !
An inquisItion holden at EN-
poria, in Lyon county on the
5th day of October, 1884, before me, q
w. Frost, coroner of said county
on the body of Josiah q. Scott, now
lying dead at the undertaking establish.
ment of VIM. Clark, by the Jurors whose
names are hereto subscribed, the said
jurors do say, upon their oaths, that said
Josiah Q. Scott came to his death by IN
jurles received in q wreck of the train on
the Santa Fe railroad drawn by engine
No. 240, on the morning of Sunday, DC
tobor 5, 1884, which wreck occurred
about one mile east of the city Of EN-
poria. We are of the opinion that SAID
wreck was caused by tie being placed
upon the track by some unknown par
ties. j. r. WALKUP,
o. w. WAY,
| in. CRowNER,
| w. G. McCLARY,
A. McCUTCHEoN,
T. NJ. Fry.
The engineer, fortunately, escaped
with slight injury.
Who the party or parties attempting
this heinous crime are is not known
and 1t is not known that there is any
clue to insure or make probable thei
capture. At the point where the obstruc
ton was first placed on the track Their
is small pile Of ties, around which
there are footprints. Some on
who saw these footprints early, say
they correspond with tracks in the ad
, jacent orchard, and that there was SOM
fruit-apples or quinces-found nes
the pile of ties. By the wagon road
south of the scene of the wreck, wer
found two or three places where horse
had been hitched to the hedge. TIL
} tracks, the fruit, the hitchin
: places, one or all may be available clue
. to the capture of the f1ends, but hav
not yet led to anything definite. Wha
the indirect result of the design was ha
been noted. The first motive must hav
been robbery. 1t is difficult for tn
mind of man not totally depraved +
conceive how thirst for gold can impe
, reckless destruction of property, or de-
sire for revenge cause hand to bear tn
stain of blood; but it is beyond cor
ception how, for gold or revenge, eve
> devils incarnate can deIiberatel,
9 confer and plan destruction which IL
)" wolves possible and probable death to an
or all of hundreds of innocent and inol
? fensiYe persons. In this case vigorou
t measures are being taken to apprehen
= the authors of the accident, and we car
t not too strongly urge its propriety an
necessity.
The A, T. s. s. F. r. r. company hs
!, offered a reward of 81, 900 for the Apr,
: hension and conviction of the guilt
: parties, snd Governor Click has offere
/ $500.
: With or without reward the man VII
r brings them to justice, will receive
3 worthy lasting need of praise.