Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-06
KILLED AT COLLINGDALE.
w. L. Buck. Cashier of the Darby
Bank, Formerly of This City.

Bank, Formerly of This City.
struck by an Express Train OH the Il. g.
o. II. R.--The Arrest of burglars During
the Night Gives Rise to an Exciting
story of Burglary and Murder.
William l.. Buck, cashier of the First
National Bank of Darby, Pa, and until
about year ago resident Of this city,
was killed ON Monday by being struck by
fast express train on the Baltimore Il
Ohio railroad, near Collingdale station,
about six miles above Chester. The
arrest Of two burglars in Darby, early
Tuesday morning, gave rise to an exciting
report that Mr.. Buck had been MUIR
dered while defending the funds of the
bank from burglarious attack, and soon
brought reporters from this city, Chester
and Philadelphia to the scene. Investi-
CATION, however, showed that Mr.. Bucks
sad death was purely accidental, and
that the theft of team and the break
ing open of Darby station and news
stand on the p, w. a.. X. r., are the
only crimes the arrested burglars will
have to answer for.
A reporter Of The GAZETTE who
went to Darby on Tuesday learned the
following particulars of Mr.. Bucks
death; He lives with his wife and three
children at Holmes station, on the Il. d
Q. railroad, three miles below Darby.
He is secretary of the Collingdale Land
and Improvement Society, and about z
o'clock Monday night he left his home for
the purpose Of attending a meeting of
the association. Collingdale is about
two miles north of Holmes, and instead
of waiting for the train leaving Holmes
at7.21 p. M, he started TO walk along
the railroad.
But Mr.. Buck failed to reach the
meeting of the association, and, when
he also failed to return home by mid
night, his wife became alarmed and
aroused the neighbors. A searching
party was organized and began to patrol
the railroad tracks between the two
stations, but it was not until nearly 4
o'clock Tuesday morning his body was
found. 1t was lying in fence corner,
to the east Of the railroad tracks, about
halfway between Collingdale and
Okeola stations. 1t is supposed that he
was struck by one of the two express
trains that pass this part of the road, in
either direction, between 7and O'Clock.
The body Of Mr.. Buck was taken to
Darby and placed in charge of Under
taker w. w. James, The skull was
terribly crushed, and his left elbow and
left leg were broken. 1t was evident
that he had been instantly killed when
struck by the train.
Later in the morning, when the
presence Of the burglars became known,
the wild rumors began to prevail 10 the
effect that Cashier Buck lad been MUIR
dered. The burglars stol a horse and
buggy from Isaac S. Wister, of near
Fernwood. They drove to Darby and
hitched the team near the Il. Il 0. sta
ton between l and o'clock Tuesday
morning. As they alighted they met the
station Waterman and inquired the
road to Darby station ON the p, w. 6s
b. railroad, and after receiving instruc-
tions started over in that direction.
Arriving at the station they broke open
the tool house and procured crow bar,
with which they effected an entrance
into the newsstand, from which they
stole an oyercoat, about IS cents in
money and few small articles. They
also forced an entrance into the station
and made an unsuccessful attempt upon
the ticket Office. They then left, and on
their way back to where they had left
the team We're arrested by 3. & 0.
Watchman John g. Murphy, who took
them to the Twenty-tirst district station
house, where they were locked up. The
team was afterward returned to the
owner.
An examination of Cashier Bucks
body dispelled all suspicion of murder.
The injuries were of Just such charac-
| ter as would have been caused by rail
road accident, and his gold watch, Ma
sonic mark and $24 in money, We're still
about his clothes when the body was
found. The absence OF robbery was re-
garded as proof that there had been no
foul play.
The people of Darby were greatly
shocked by Cashier Bucks sad death.
Although he had been there only little
over year he had gained ahigh repu-
tation for his business character and
abilities and was also socially popular.
An incident in connection with the
| death of II boy named Buckley, who
was struck by train and killed at
Darby, on the p, w. g. b. II. r., Mon
| day afternoon, was recalled by the news
of Mr. Bucks death on Tuesday. Re-
ferring to the accident he remarked,
I'm never get killed on the railroad, be-
cause | wont walk on the track" And
yet he met this very fate within few
hours.
Deceased was about 81 years old and
the son of Robert Buck, a grocer at
Rockland. After serving as q school
teacher for some time he became ex-
change clerk at First National Bank,
this city, entering that institution in
1899 and remaining there three years
during which period he was promoted
to the position of general clerk. He re-
signed that office to become paying teller
at Union National Bank, which position
he held about three years. Subsequently
he accepted the Wilmington agency OF
the Provident Mutual Accident Com
pany, which he resigned about year
ago, when he was elected cashier of the
Darby bank Those with whom he
was associated in business speak in
! the highest terms of his character and
business ability. lie was Methodist
and for awhile was president of the
board of trustees'of Mt. Salem Church
lie was member of Darby Lodge, A.
u. A. NJ. His wife and three children
survive him. His father did not hear OF
his death until he came to town Tuesday
morning and was almost Frustrated By
the sad news.