The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-23
DEADLY TROLLEY.
Ernest Erickson, Five Years of
Age,
Crushed to Death by an Oak
land Electric Car.
THE CAR WAS STARTED
While He fingered on the
Track in Front of It.
COrOner's Jury ExOnerates the
Conductor and MOtOrman.

Ernest Erickson, aged years, was
crushed to death under the wheels of
an Oakland trolley car Tuesday after
noon at o'clock. He was the son of
Mr.. and Mrs. A. Erickson, who live on
Franklin avenue, Oakland.
Mrs. Erickson and another woman
rode with their children on the Oakland
car. When Seward and Logan avenues
were reached the car was stopped. Pas
sengers were leaving the car from the
rear door, and to expedite matters,
Motorman E. NJ. BarrOws opened the
front door and Mrs. Erickson stepped
out of the car. She and her boy walk
ed in front of the car. Conductor Q. L.
SIaytOn rang the mOtOrman ahead.
Ernest Erickson was behind his mother.
Other children had crossed the track,
and MOtOrman BarrOWS supposed the
way was clear and he started the car.
But the boy was caught and the wheels
ground his body horribly. His chest
was crushed, and death must have been
instantaneous. The mother was crazed
with the shock of the accident.
The boys body was taken into Mel
sons grocery, near by, and Coroner
Westerfield and Manager Patten no
titled. Soon afterward, A. Erickson,
father of the boy, arrived. He was
frantic. Motorman Barrows was great
Iy affected and he left his car and
started through the fields toward the
city Erickson vowed that the motor
man had killed his boy Intentionally.
Barrows arrived at the Topeka railway
car office pale with fright. He was as
sured that no violence would be done
him and that an investigation would
reveal the responsibility for the acct
dent.
Erickson, who is an emplOye at the
Santa Fe shops, vowed that he would
kill MOtOrman BarrOWs at the hrSt OPP
portunfty. He said: THAT man is re-
sponsible He had no business starting
up and crushing my boy. He should be
killed And 1 will do it if can catch
Friends of Erickson attempted to
quiet him.
This morning at 10 o'clock Coroner
Westerfield held an inquest at the
Erickson residence in Oakland. A guard
was sent along with MOtOrman Bar
rows and Conductor Slayton to prevent
any violence from Erickson and his
friends.
countrymen assembled at his house and
there was considerable talk of a lynch
ing. but calmer heads prevailed. They
did not seem to realize that the motor
man had done all in his power to stop
the car when he discovered the cond1-
tions The trolley cars weigh four tons
each, and they are not easily stopped
To be run over by one is as fatal as
by a locomotive. Another thing which
was against MOtOrman BarroWS
chances of seeing the boy was the hlgh
vestibules on the car. The moIorman
the car without putting his mead out
of the window.
The company officials regret the ac-
cident greatly, but say that it was un-
avOida bic in this instance. 1t was due
to the careIessness of the injured par
ties Much trouble has been experienced
nv carmen with children about the
tracks. and it is a wonder that more
children are not killed.
MotOrman BarrOWS has good record
as a motorman. He has never before
had a serious accident and in this case
he seems to have been unfortunate
merely.
The cOroner's jury brought in a verdi
let of accidental killing and cleared the
carmen of any responsibility for the
accident At the inquest no trouble
was made by Erickson or his friends as
had been feared.
The body of Ernest Erickson was hor-
ribly mutilated. Both wheels on the
right hand side of the truck passed over
his body The chest was crushed, also
one shoulder and the spinal column sew
cred. The body was barely held togeth-
er by the flesh.
In the history of the Topeka railway
there has never been a fatal accident to
an adult A few children have been
killed, and in each case the company
has been cleared of responsibility This
is rather a remarkable record. But
Manager Jos. Patterns orders are strict
and in case of emergency accidents are
usually due to carelessness on the part
El1ar noe