The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-06
WAS NOT MURDERED
LETTER RECEIVED FROM CORONER
SWEENEY GIVES INFORMATION.


Mrs. Reed Receives Letter from Her Hus-
band, which was Written at Salt Lake
City, Containing a Draft, and Mr.
Russell, the Partner, Says that this &C
commits for all the Money-Letter of the
Coroner States that seo.95 was Found
on his Person, and what Caused the
Jury to Hold SO long.
The news that William Reed was not
murdered, as 1T was the general belief,
but was accidertly killed will be read
IN this mornings Eagle with gratifac-
ton by all
The reason for this statement Is given
by Mr.. Russell, the partner of Mr..
Reed. who has figured up the receipts
and found that all the money had been
sent back excepting about $3.50. Mrs.
Reed received a letter written by her
husband at Salt Lake City, which con-
tained a draft for s215. According to
the letter of the acting coroner, James
P. Sweeney, there was found on the
body $40 95 This with the price of the
ticket fully accounts for what money
he had in his possession excepting
about 81.
The following letter was received
from Acting Coroner James P. Sweeney
by Ed. Petrie today and is published in
full It is dated Nov. 3, at Grand juno
ton, Col. and reads as follows:
Dear Sfr-The coroner's jury after
being in session yesterday and today
brought in a verdict that William
Reed was killed by the cars at this
place Nov. 1, 1895, between 5 and
q. m. We made as close examination
as possible. There was no one saw him
prior to the time he was found lying on
the railroad track. The Colorado Mid
land passenger train had pulled out
about $50 a. m. His body was discov-
cred about 6:15 a. m. The coroner be
ing away I was notified of it. / sum-
moned jury and went out and viewed
the body / had DIT removed to an I'M
dertaking establishment The bruises
on the body we did not think sufficient
TO cause death. His side was bruised
some and the left arm broken. had a
doctor make a postmortem examina-
ton. He reported that his body had
been pressed so hard that nearly all
the insides were out Of place, eight ribs
were broken. From what information
we could get came to the conclusion
that in trying TO get on the train he
must have fallen off and was run over.
1 will send what papers, etc, that
were found upon his person to you by
express for Mrs. Reed. Enclosed you
will find a message from Hansen Pro-
1uce comptny in reply to the one I sent
them in regard to when he left Salt
Lake City, and what money he had. He
had only 500 90 in money ON his person
when found.
Any further Information you may de-
sire / will furnish if possible.
Express my heartfelt sympathy to
Mrs. Reed.
Yours truly,
JAS. P. SWEENEY.
Acting Coroner.
The telegram received by Mr..
Sweeney, of which mention is made in
the letter, Is as follows:
Salt Lake City. Nov. 2.
William Reed left here Wednesday |
night or Thursday morning. He cash |
ed a check for $500 81 Wednesday after /
noon
J. W. HANSON PRODUCE co.
Mr.. Russell, the partner, says that |
the receipt Of this draft accounts for /
about all the money Reed should have /
had IN his possession as shown by the |
letter written. He also believes that |
one car load of potatoes have been left |
this causes him to give up his theory |
that Reed was murdered, but is of the |
opinion that he was standing on the !
platform for the purpose Of taking in
the early morning view and was jerk
ed from the platform and struck by
rear car. The body was not mangled |
but was in perfect form.
The friends here autographed to DIFF
ferent points in hopes of reaching Mr..
e.
were unable to locate him. At Fort
Scott he saw a. copy of the Eagle and
at once photographed to the chief of po-
lice to know whether the man was his
son. The telegram was showned to
Mr.. Russell. who answered il imme-
diately. The second dispatch was re-
ceivedi from Mr.. Reed to hold the re-
mains until his arrival which was done.
The Denver Republican has the fol-
lowing to say concerning the death of
Reed:
Soon after daylight the dead body of
a man was found on the Midland track
near the Union depot in this city and
from surroundings it was concluded
that he had attempted to steal a ride
the coaches of the Midland
train and falling beneath the train was
killed by being struck by the brake
beams. The wheels Gid not pass over
badly manglea, except that the left arm
was broken. In the absence of Coro-
nor Smith, Justice Sweeney was notifi-
ed and proceeded to hold an inquest
over the remains. The body was that
Of a man about thirty-five years old
md fairly well clothed. On the person
was found money to the amount of
s2o.95 and several letters. which proved
the dead man TO be William Reed and
his home near Wichita, Kan. Several
of the letters were written by the de-
ceased mans wife and from their con-
tents the parties were supposed to be in
fairly good circumstances Other pa-
pers showed that Mr.. Reed had recent
" done business with the Hanson Pro-
1uce company of Salt Lake. selling
them three car loads of sweet potatoes,
After hearing the testimony the iurv
decided IL best TO hold a post rnorten,
IN order 10 allaY beyond a doubt any
suspicion of foul play and they adj
lourned until O'clock kilograms
were sent to the wife at Wichita. notifv-
ing her OF the death and asking as 10
the disposition 10 be made Of the body
and TO the Hanson Produce company
asking for any information they could
MISUNDERSTANDING
= WHEN complicated :.