Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-03-14
PAID THE WIDOW 81, 500.
Last Chapter In Battle Creeks Ter,
rible Railroad Wreck.


terrible Chicago and Grand Trunk
wreck Of Oct, 20, 1903, in Battle Creek,
Mich, is closed, There Is quite story
to the closing incident, and really II
strange one, The day Of the wreck
among the bodies taken from the
debris was one which was labeled as
mo. q, unknown" Upon II was found
SlT5 In gold gold watch and evil
dences that the person lived In Eng
land. These facts We're telegraphed
away with the description of articles
found upon the remains of the other
bodies. In two or three days man
arrived from Chicago, who gave his
name as Robert III. Dawson, and
claimed the remains rs those of his
brother George from Essex, England,
who was coming to this country to
pay him visit and take in the Worlds
Fair, He said that his brother had
stopped over in Buffalo, and from there
had written letter to him, which he
produced, as follows:
1--WE are the only two who are left.
1t is more than two years since our
mother died, although 1t seems only
yesterday. | cannot 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 our lives.
l 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. l have not
changed great deal in appearance,
but have grown older, and Chicago is
such rustling place, and you won't
have much time. shall wear brown
newish tweed suit"
Here followed an accurate descrlp-
ton Of his dress and baggage. Then
he tells what he has in his pockets and
the number Of his watch, even adding
that the key to his watch will be found
in his vest pocket. He adds:
81 may get captured by the Indians
or get wrecked, and this will serve to
let you know who l am in case any
thing happens. | shall leave Buffalo
tomorrow over the Grand Trunk on
the Pacific express"
This letter was copied all over the
country at the time as one of those sin
gular incidents where person has n
premonition that some accident would
befall them.
The undertakers who had charge of
the bodies suspicioned that Dawson
was a fraud. He was n good talker
and convinced the officials that he was
all right and they gave him the $175
in gold and the watch found on his
person, and he departed in unseemlng
haste for Chicago, not even caring to
take the body Of his alleged brother
with him, but ordered it buried in the
potter'S field. His conduct finally
aroused the suspicious Of the officials
and they put 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 a 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.