The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-08
MRS. vALIToN'S DEATH.
The COroner's Jury Find the Railway Com
pAny Partly to Blame.


pAny Partly to Blame.
DEER LoDsE, June Especial to the
Independent The funeral OF Mrs. Mar
garet Walton. who was killed yesterday
by a railroad engine, took place this after
noon The services were held at the Chris
tian church, the Rev. ID. J. Mcmillan, n. ID.
president of the Montana College, preaching
the funeral sermon. The body was fol-
lowed 10 the graveyard by the largest con-
course of citizens that has ever attended q
funeral here.
The coroner's jury, which was empan-
eled last evening, has been In secret ses-
sion all day. County Attorney II. F.
Titus appeared 10 behalf OF the territory,
and the Hon. VIM. J. Galbraith appeared
for the railroad company. The coroner.
VIM. Faeer, who is himself an old engin-
eer, made thorough examination of the
railroad men The facts as developed were
about as appeared in the INDEFENDENT
to-day, only it does not appear Mrs. Vail
ton turned around 10 look at the train.
The following is an extract from the testi-
mony of the engineer, Hiram McNeill-
which Is the a substance OF all the testi-
mony As TO how the accident occurred
when / came to the water tank l saw
the lady on the track, but could not tell ex-
actly where she was-whether on the
bridge OF not; but after / whistled l
thought she was on the bridge, but was not
sure. l started 10 hold the train up then.
right there, and after 1 applied the brake |
whistled. 1 whistled at the regular whist
Ling post and then whistled at her after
wards She never looked around when /
whistled and 1 don't know whether she
heard me OF not About the time l hit
the bridge ! supposed the woman would
get of the track, but could not tell
had the brakes on then as
tight as could be on the train.
About the time the engine hit
the bridge, the woman fell with her foot
through the bridge, and / reversed the en-
gine the minute 1 saw the woman fall. The
engine struck the woman and passed over
her. l could have stopped the train on her
but after l struck her l ran the train over
her, and then stopped. 1 don't know
whether she knew the train was coming or
not. She did not look around at all and
did not appear 10 hear anything until l
IL had known the lady was
going to fall | could have stopped, but l
thought she would step OF the track like !
anyone else would be supposed to do. 1 |
thought she was pretty near the north end
lf the bridge"
The jurors were James b. McMaster, p. |
Bader, sam Beaumont, John IL. Buxton.
Peter Lansing and VIM F. Furay. In the /
7erdict which they returned, after reciting
he facts of the death, they have this to say:
And we, the jurors, further find from the
evidence that the engine attached to said
rain became disabled on the day OF the ac-
ident, at or near Warm Springs station,
n the line of said railroad, and at the time
4 said accident said engine was not In a
condition; and further believe
hat said Montana Union Railway COM
any are 10 a certain extent responsible for
be death of said Margaret Walton; and
re, the jurors, further believe that if due
iligence had been observed on the part OF
be engineer the train might have been
topped in time 70 prevent the accident"