Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-26
DIR. PECK'S FRIGHTFUL DEATH
run DOWN BY A TRAIN AND BODY
DRAGGED o FEET.
He Was Il Lecturer on HypnOtism and
Occult Art. but Lived the Life of
n Nomad-Watch Recorded
Time He Was Killed.

DIR. Merritt &. Peck, who lived in a
shanty at Front street and Troost avenue.
formerly used by the Fuller Coal Company
as an Office, was run down and Killed by
an Air line freight train while crossing
the tracks just south of his shanty. about
$50 last evening. His body was dragged go
feet along the rails to where the Air line
and Missouri Pacific tracks form a cross
ing. The flesh and bones were distributed
by the train trucks the entire distance. In
the switch frog at the crossing the unlof-
tunate mans shoe caught, and what was
left OF the body was pulled out to one side
of the track as the train passed on.
The body remnant was found about ':lo
by a boy named X. ID. Jacques, who lives
at do Gilliss street. and the police notified.
Police Surgeon Longan, who hurried to the
scene with the ambulance, found DIR. Peck
past human aid, and ~telephoned 10 Cor
oner Bedford. The body was removed to
Stewards undertaking establishment on
Walnut street.
DIR. Peck was about As years old and
came to Kansas City early last fall. He
had three valuable horses, a covered waG-
on and a fast road wagon. When he came
he placed his horses in a barn at Gulnotte
and Forest avenues belonging to William
Mcdonald, a driver for Il transfer company.
The barn is situated across the Air line
tracks, south. from the doctors CABIN. he
kept the feed for his horses in the cabin,
and carried it over TO the barn. morning
and evening.
i Idu lliIiSIitu ltttIiIS iiS IL
evening in McDonald's barn, and was re-
turning TO his cabin when the train struck
him. The train was 4 transfer from the
Missouri Pacific to the Air line tracks, and
was backing up the grade, west.
Mr.. Mcdonald, the owner of the barn
in which DR.. Peck kept his horses, was well
acquainted with the doctor since he came
to Kansas City. During the warmer por-
ton of the fall. Mr.. Mcdonald says. DR..
Peck lived in his wagon. He seemed to be
we'll supplied with money, and made no
pretense at practicing his profession. He
said he had 5000 in cash when he arrived
in Kansas City, and on one occasion dis
played a 500 bill TO Mr.. Mcdonald. During
November DR.. Peck went to Nevada, Mo,
where he remained six weeks. When he
| returned he secured the little coal office as
a house, and soon made himself snug. He
claimed he was going to take a. course OF
lectures in Kansas City His house was
filled with laprobes. rites; harness. etc,
! and Mr.. Mcdonald thinks there must have
been some money there also, hidden away.
He volunteered to watch the cabin last
night until the coroner can make an in
vestigation to-day.
DIR. Peck was a fine specimen OF physical
manhood. He was a lecturer on hypnot-
ism and occult art. A paper on the former
subject was found in his coat pocket after
his body had been removed to the under,
takers morgue last night. his fne Solt
watch had stopped at GA, which Is thought
TO have been the exact minute the tram
struck him.
DIR. Peck had n wife and one daughter
living at Thirty-first and emo avenue.
Minneapolis. They were notified last night
by wire of his death.