The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-02-28
PAID THE WIDOW $500.
Last Chapter i'm Battle Creeks Ter.
ribIe Railroad Wreck.

The last chapter in the history Of the
terrible Chicago and Grand Trunk
wreck of bet 20. 1893, in Battle Creek,
to the closing incident. and really Il
strange one. The day of the wreck
among the bodies taken from the
debris was one which was labeled as
NO. &. unknown" Upon it was found
$40 in gold. n gold watch and evil
dences that the person lived in Eng
land. These facts were telegraphed
away with the description of articles
found upon the remains Of the other
bodies. In two Or three days a man
arrived from Chicago, who gave his
name as Robert ii. Dawson. and
claimed the remains as those of his
brother George, from Essex. England,
who was coming to this country to
pay him Il visit and take in the Worlds
Fair. He said that his brother had
stopped over in Buffalo. and from there
had written a letter to him. which he
produced. as follows:
I'VE are the only two who are left.
1t is more than two years since our
mother died. although it seems only
yesterday. | cannO bear being alone
any longer. You write me that you
have not been doing very well in the
west. | have enough to take you back
home with me. and we will live in the
old home together the rest of u lives.
| have stopped over here in Buffalo to-
day that ! may let you know me when
you see me. 1t has been six years
since you saw me, and perhaps you
would not know me. | have not
changed Il great deal In appearance,
but have grown older. and Chicago is
such Il rustling place. and YOU won't
have much time. | shall yea Il brown
newiSh tweed suit"
Here followed an accurate deScrip-
! ton of his dress and baggage. Then
he tells what he has in his pockets and
the number of his watch. wen adding
| that the key to his watch will be found
in his vest pocket. He adds:
Il may get captured by the Indians
or get wrecked. and this will serve to
let you know who | am i'm case my
thing happens. | shall leave Buffalo
tomorrow oven the Grand Trunk on
the Pacific express"
This letter was copied all oven the
country at the time rs n of those sin
gular incidents where IL person has Il
DremonitiOn that olnc accident would
befall them.
The undcrtakerS who had charge of
the bodies suSpicioncd that Dawson
was Il fraud. He was Il good talkcr
| and convinced the officials that he was
Ill right and they gave him the $40
in gold and the watch found on his
person, and he departed in unSeeming
haste for Chicago, not even caring to
take the body of his alleged brother
with him. hut ordered it buried in the
potter'S field. His conduct finally
aroused the suspicious of the officials
and they put il detective on his track
| and run him down. They went to Chi
| cago and interviewed the fellow and
he was so smooth and slick that he
again convinced them that he was
Dawson's brother. and they released
him. He was an ~unprincipled scOun
| drel. however, mean enough to rob the
| dead. The letter he ingeniously in
| vented himself. and played his part
well.
The truth finally came out that the
body was that of George Greenwood,
of England. The Chicago and Grand
Trunk failed to make Il settlement
with the widow and she placed the
matter in the hands of an attorney, and
| they commenced suit against the COM
pany for damages. Mrs. Greenwood
| and IL brother of the deceased came to
attend the trial from England. After
one days proceedings the plaintiff
presented such indisputable evidence
that the body was that of George
Greenwood, that the company offered
to settle and paid the widow $500.
The Judge then dismissed the case. The
body was taken from Oak Hill Gene
terry. where it has repOsed as the re-
mains of George Dawson for over Il
year, Theoretically sealed. and shipped
to the old home in England, accom-
panied on the sad. last journey by the
widow and brother.