The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-20
INQUEST HELD.
The Death of Henry Kend Investi-
gate by the Coroner.

Coroner Paddock was summoned
by telegraph Sunday to investigate
the death of Henry Kend, who was
found mortally wounded on the Min
neapois & st. Louis railway track a
mile this side of Madison Lake Fri
day night. He decided to hold an in
quest, and jury was summoned for
the purpose.
b. f. Clement, conductor of the
train, was the first witness sworn,
and said that when three fOurths of
mile west of Madison Lake, the en-
gineer stopped the train and inform
ed him that the train had struck a
man. We got off and the train
crew picked the man up. He was
breathing at the time but uncOn-
scious, and we put him on the train
and carried him back to Madison lake
and turned him over to the agent.
There were some cuts on his face,
and his right leg was cut off between
the knee and ankle joints. Did
not notice any bruises on left leg.
.W.Arbuckle, fireman on the train,
said the train was on time. The body
was found on north side of the track.
1t was lying partly across the track.
Saw him 80 feet ahead before we
struck him. We had just whistled
at road crossing a 100 yards from
place where we struck him. When
we first saw him he was lying with
his back toward the engine, with his
head near the NORTH side of the
track. He lay still between the rails
with his head toward the engine, and
looked straight ahead, and did not
see the engine strike him. We were
going % or 30 miles an hour which is
about The usual rate Of speed. IL is
down grade there.
w. Ii. James, a brakeman on the
train, said that the train is managed
by air or hand brakes, and that it
generally takes distance of twenty
rods to stop the train.
Fredericka Kend, wife of the de-
ceased, said that he had left home at
4:3O p. IN. 10 go to Madison Lake on
the railroad track. He was not in
the habit of drinking much. He had
$3.50 when he left here, and they
found 81 .l6 on his body when he was
brought back. He bought some
raislns, candy and tobacco.
Joseph P. -Cuddy, who has saloon
at Madison Lake, said that the de-
ceased was at his place of business
Friday at about 400 to $40 p. M,
coming in twice, but did not stay
long. He drank glass of beer and
one of whisky, when he was in the
first time. He was in the habit of
drinking when he came to town, but
never drank to excess. He did not
seem to be Intoxicated, but whenever
he drank glass or so he began to
sing. He seemed in good spirits, and
had package of tobacco and one
other package.
Timothy b. Murtaugh, Madison
Lake merchant, said that the deceaS-
ed was in his store at 6:15 p. M, but
did not seem intoxicated. His usual
way of coming to town was down the
track. He was peaceable and bore a
good reputation among his friends.
The jury brought in the following
verdict: ''That the said Henry
Kend came to his death by being &C
cidentally struck by the west bound
passenger train of the Minneapolis &
St. Louis railroad, about three
fourths of a mile west of Madison
Lake station at about 500 o'clock p.
10. of March 18th, 1885,"
Rosa Sneider, six year old, whose
mother lives at Vernon, was sent to
the Stute nublic school at OWatOnna