The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-08-10
HIS LIFE WAS CRUSHED OUT
FATAL ACCIDENT At THE NEW
BANK BUILDING YESTERDAY.

Frank w. Cayton Caught Between the
Elevator and the Wall-His Neck Broken
and Chest Crushed-Death Was Instant
aneous-Victim Lived in Westville.
The new building of the First Ma
Crown streets was late yesterday af-
ternoon the scene of a fatal accident
whereby Frank w. Cayton, the elevator
attendant, had his life literally crush
ed out of him. Cayton was about thirty
years old, unmarried and lived with his
widowed mother, whose sole support
he was, at II Central avenue, Westville.
Cayton's neck was broken and his
chest crushed almost to a pulp.
About 4:5O o'clock yesterday after
noon Cayton was running the elevator
in the bank building and at the sixth
story the guide wire rope snapped
and bounded to the top of the building,
and then back again to within foot
of the floor of the seventh story. The
crash. of the elevator against the top
of the building attracted the attention
of number of men who were working
in the building, and they rushed to the
scene.
Upon their arrival they found that
the elevator had been stopped by Cap
tons body, which had been wedged be-
tween the floor of the elevator and the
wall. The body was extricated from
it's position and laid on the floor of the
elevator. After one or two convulsive
gasps the head fell back and Cayton
was dead.
Medical Examiner White was prompt
ly notified and was soon upon the
scene. After examining the remains
he found that Cayton's neck was
broken, his chest crushed in and the
right side of the back and hips badly
scraped. Death was instantaneous
Medical Examiner White is of the
opinion that the cause of Caytons
death was purely accidental and that
no one was responsible. He thinks
that Cayton evidently intended to get
off at the sixth story, but the guide
wire broke and he was unable to
control the car When the car re-
bounded he was thrown out and wedg
ed between the car and the elevator
well
Some of the occupants of the build
ing have, however, entirely different
theories as to the manner in which
the accident occurred. They think that
Cayton had left a passenger at the
sAo o,.Sa tha oil TOR
preparatory to ascending. For some
reason the door failed to close and in
leaning forward to close it, Cayton
being lame, lost his balance and fell
between the car and the well. They
also think that the guide wire rope was
broken by the force of the car strik-
ing against the top of the building.
officer H. J. Donnelly, who was off
duty at the time. was passing the build
ing when the accident occurred. He
rushed in and ran UP stairs to the top
Of the building to notify the janitor,
who was at the top, and see if the
freight elevator could be used. He also
sent a boy for the ambulance and no.
titled DR.. Wheeler DIR. Wheeler came
within few moments, but Cayton was
dead.
Medical Examiner White stated that
the elevator company had been notified
and would send man from New York
to-day to repair the break and run the
elevator for the present There will
be no coroner's inquest, as there are
apparently no indications of criminal
carelessness.
After the accident the remains were
taken to Lewis & Maycock's. Clayton
was about thirty years old, and lived
in Westville. He was house carpen-
ter by trade, and about two years ago,
while working on a scoffold, fell off
and broke both legs. He was taken
to the hospital where he remained for
long time, and had been lame ever
since About two weeks ago he Sc
cured the position at the bank.