Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-23
KILLED BLYTHE TRACK
MIR. Il. VI. sTRATTON MEETS WITH
A VERY MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
HIS JAN EONE AND Arm BhOKEN.
There Was Also n Cash Under the
Chin and an Eraser Lying by His
sfde-sketch OF His Career-The
Funeral.
Funeral.

|
in the freight offices Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company here. bro
ther of Dr. Thomas Il. Stratton and Of
Mr.. j. Taylor Stratton, was killed on
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Pc-
tomac railroad track. near the shops,
about 7:l5 o'clock last night
He did not actually breathe his last
until a little after O'clock but he re-
ceived the fatal injuries about the hour
named, soon lost consciousness. and be-
| gan to sink rapidly.
The accident that caused Mr.. Stratton,s
death-for accident it must have been
is involved in more or less mystery. He
seems to have been struck with great
| force, presumably by locomotive, and
| his jawbone and right arm were broken,
while there was a cut under the chin,
made it is supposed by an unsheathed
| eraser, which he had In his pocket. and
which must have been forced out when
he fell as it lay on the ground near him.
The tragedy created quite a sensation
throughout the city, as Mr.. Stratton
was well known and prominently con-
| nected here. He was about "a years OF
| age and was unmarried. He had been
somewhat indisposed for several days,
but was able TO be out yesterday, and
talked with one Of his brothers only a
few hours before he met his terrible fate
From papers found in his pockets X ap-
peared that he had been out in the West
End yesterday evening on business, as
there were on his person receipts for
payments made yesterday.
FOUND BY THE YARDMASTER.
Mr. Stratton was discovered by the
yardmaster of the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railway shortly after
o'clock last evening. lying between the
two tracks of that road. not far from
the shops. with his feet upon one of the
railroad ties and his head between the
tracks. He was then In semi-conscous
| condition and was removed 10 a work.
house nearby, and the ambulance was
teephoned for. The surgeon found Mr.
Stratton suffering from a shock, and
gave him stimulants TO give him
strength and vigor. The suffering man
was placed upon the stretcher in the
ambulance, and the conveyance was
driven off. At that time the dazed man
said he had not been struck or robbed,
but his watch was missing and the chain
broken. a few minutes later he said ne
had been struck by an engine. There
was n stab-wound under his chin. and
as before stated. the jawbone and arm
were broken. There had been but
slight hemorrhage, but by the time the
ambulance had reached the corner OF
Broad and Harrison streets DR.. Lyme OBJ
served that Mr.. Stratton was breathing
very rapidly, and that he was very
Eighty Realizing the dangerous con-
dition of his patient. DR.. Lyme stopped
near Brook avenue, got some water. and
gave the dying man a hypodermic injec-
tion; but he had passed beyond the reach
OF medical skill. and soon expired. The
Surgeon continued his work 10 the last,
and took the body to the residence OF
Dr. Stratton, No. al north Seventh street
1t had been with some difficulty that the
name of the sufferer was learned. and,
consequently, the family had not been
notified. The shock to them was. there
fore, an awful one.
CORONER TO INVESTIGATE.
Coroner Taylor was notified by Dr.
LYME. and apprised of the facts in the
case. so far as the young surgeon had
been able to learn them The Coroner
viewed the body at Or. Stratton'S resi-
dence. and made an examination, which
showed the jawbone and right arm to be
broken. He was satisfied that the in
iuries resulted from an accident rather
than foul play, but will make further
inquiry this morning. He thinks an in
quest will be necessary.
Superintendent Courtney, OF the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg, and Potomac rail-
road. was first apprised Of the ac-
cldent by a Dispatch reporter. He at
once made inquiry, but was not able to
ported to him that he found the injured
man as above explained and that Mr..
Stratton, when first approached. said he
had not been struck by a train. The
shifting engine was the only thing on
the tracks about the time OF the occur
renee.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Mr.. Stratton was born in this city
6fty-four years ago He was "A son
of the late NJ. Il. Stratton. who was the
first Auditor of the City of Richmond.
He was given a thorough classical edu
cation. and studied law. He practiced
his profession for several years at Camp
bell Courthouse, and was at one time
Reading Clerk in the State Senate. under
Shelton f. Davis. After he left this po
sition he went TO Texas. whore he re-
sided for seventeen years; was at one
time Assistant District Attorney for the
Western District of Texas, and resided
at Seymour.
Mr. Stratton was an intimate friend of
Congressman Rodgers, OF Arkansas, and
was by this gentleman, several years ago.
appointed to a lucrative position I'm the
Pension Department at Washington. He
remained in this position throughout
Clevelands first administration, and was
afterWard clerk TO his brother. DR. STRAIT
ton. i'm the quarantine station at Way
cross Ca during the yellow-fever epi-
demic. Since this time he had been re-
siding in Richmond. and had been con-
nected with the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway.
Mr. Stratton was a great lover Of Ma
sonry. and was a postmaster OF Rust
burg Lodge Campbell county, where he
practiced law for some time. During the
war he was with the Hampden-Sidney
bows. I'm the Twentieth Virginia Infantry
He was captured at Rich Mountain. in
1871 and paroled. After his parole he
went to school at Randolph Macon Col
lege where he graduated. Coming back
10 Richmond. he was appointed second
clerk in the office OF his father Mr.
Stratton was exchanged by the military
authorities in 1853 and Joined John Y
ReaU of the Confederate navy, who was
GENERATING as a privateer. He was after
ward sent 10 Richmond In charge OF some
prisoners. and being unable TO get
hack 10 his command, Joined Morgan
and served as a lieutenant Of artillery
under that general.
He was a prominent member of George
r pickett Camp Of Confederate Vese-
rams. and a thoroughly educated and
talented man. He was a thorough Greek
and Latin scholar a fine mathematician.
and knew about the sciences OF the day
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral
FUNERAL OF REV. DIR. POWERS.
r,ry. Qoucourse Of Friends Attend