Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-09
TIRED OF LIFE.
Thomas Mills Throws Himself Between the
Cars Of a Moving Train and IL
Instantly Killed.

At Ills a. m. yesterday, as freight trail
No. on the St. Louis, Fort Scott ant
Wichita railroad was pulling out from tn,
freight depot in this city man was seen t.
between the cars. The conductor and en-
gineer of train No. Z, which was on the sid'
track, saw the act and instantly signalled tn,
moving train to stop, but before this coul(
be done two of the trucks of an empty Goa
car passed over his body and the next vince
had got directly upon him when the train
was stopped. When taken from beneath
the train it was discovered thai
the wheels had passed over about the middle
Of his body, crushing out his entrails and
almost cutting him in two. He was taken
into the freight house, where he breathed
his last in few minutes.
At 2 p. m. Coroner j. W. Wingard EN-.
panneled tee following jury: A. J. Stanley
w. S. Morris, George T. Millburn, w. 4
Cooper, John Mcmillan and Joseph Dewitt
Joseph Harkins recognized the body as
that of Thomas Mills, lsborer who worked
for contractor on the extension of the Fort
Scott railroad. The deceased was dressed in
the garb Of laboring man, and nothing but
a tobacco sack and a piece Of string WAS
found in his pockets. After examining the
remains the jury retired to the coroner's
Office where witnesses were examined.
Mr.. G. NJ. Bauman, who hiss charge Of
the cars and locomotives, testified that the
man came to him few minutes before the
accident and asked If the boys had all gone
to the front. He did not think he was
drunk. but he looked as if he had been on a
bum. Joseph Harkins said that the de-
ceased had worked with him on the rail-
road loading ties-that he was rather a
strange acting man, but never knew him to
drink. The deceased had told him that he
had once kept store in Colorado; never
heard him say where he belonged or if he
was m arried or single, or if no had any rela-
tives. Two boys named Haynes testified
that they saw deceased get down on
his hands and knees and crawl
in between the cars while the
train was in motion. That he started from
the east side and as soon as he had reached
the rail on the west side he lay down across
It, the wheels passing oyer him as before
stated. The conductor and engineer Of the
train gave substantially the same testimony.
The deceased is slightly built, about 46
years old, of medium height and looked as
if he had been half starved. The man Har-
kins with whom he had worked, said he left
the road about month ago and he had not
seen him from that time until he saw him
dead.
Nobody was found who knew where he
had stopped here or how long he had been
in town. Later in the evening reporter met
T. +. Chambcrlin who said he had talk with
deceased yesterday morning when he told
him he had no money and had nothing to
eat since the day before and that he guessed
be would soon have 10 die.
The verdict of the jury was that the de-
ceased had come by his death by deliberately
throwing himself under train of cars while
in motion-said cars passing over his body
causing instant death; no blame attached to
he railroad company.
During the afternoon the probable cause
If the rash act was freely discussed. No
cause could be assigned but hunger and
misery.
A number of our.. citizens speaking in this
said that not day passes that
me or more men do not come TO their resi-
lences begging for food, and itappears that
his is general all over town. They come
rom the east, from Colorado, from Texas
md from everywhere-just now the storm
enter of tramps is right here; they are Of
II kinds, both young and old; well clad
nd almost naked. In this connection it is
ifscult to distinguish between the profess
ional tramp and the honest man out of
york. Our citizens appear to be very ten
er hearted and charitable. We have not
card of single applicant being turned
way without being fed.
At 1O4 Douglas avenue, in the room re-
entity occupied as a millinery store, the
artition is being removed. This room and
he one occupied as boo. and shoe store
y ]. BrAitsch, being thus converted into
ne large room. This entire space VIII nov
Q utalized by the above arm. i
M