The age-herald., 1898-09-04
KILLED BY AN
 ELECTRIC GAR ". Y. Panky, of Stevenson, Ala., the
 Victim. WENT TO SLEEP ON TRACK Is Thought to Have Been Under the h.
 lluenCe Of Liquor.
HEAD ALMOST SEVERED FROM BODY
Accident Occurred on Ensley Line Near Thomas-Motorman Did Not See
 the Man Until the Gar was Almost Upon Him.

Last night at 7:25 o'clock W. V. Pankey, a white man about 50 years of age, was run into and instantly killed near Thomas station, on the Ensey line of the Birming- ham Railway and Electric company, about three miles from the city. The unfortunate man met horrible death, his head being terribly crushed and almost severed from the body
 At the time of the accident Pankey was sitting on the end of crosstie sound asleep, and 1t is thought was under the in- f1uence of whisky.
 Car No. 8S, in charge of Conductor Mor- rison and Motorman Patty, left Ensey at 7:10 o'clock on the return trip to the city. Several regular stops were made, and after leaving Pratt City the car proceeded on it's journey, running at a speed of about ten miles an hour Between East Highlands and Thomas station Motorman Patty sud- denly discovered the figure of a man crouch ed down or sitting on the tracks just a short distance ahead of the car. Summon ing almost superhuman strength he re- versed his levef and put on brakes, but be- fore the car could be stopped it ran upon the crouching figure and knocked it off the track. As soon as the car could be stop- ped the crew and passengers hastened back to the spot where the man had been struck and found his lifeless body lying in a ditch beside thetrack.
 Struck by the Steps
 The steps of the car struck the man in. passing the sharp edge almost severing the head from the trunk and crushing the entire left side of the head into a pulp
 Te body was placed aboard the car and brought to the city where 1t was turned over to the Warner-Smiley undertaking es- tablishment.
 The man was neatly dressed. He wore black Prince Albert coat, suit of the same material, a colored bosom stiff shirt, turn down collar and black satin tie. On the little finger of his left hand he wore a plain gold ring. He was evidently a stran- ger as no one seemed to know him. The motorman and conductor were both unable to identify him, and not until a key ring was found in his pocket was 1t possible to learn his name. The ring contained tag on which was engraved, I'M. V. Pankey Stevenson, Ala"
 When the remains were taken to the undertaking establishment an envelope ad- T Ala" was found in his pocket On one cor ner of the envelope was written Prom M V. Pankey." Besides a few pieces of to- bacco there was nothing else in the pockets except a brocaded four-in-hand necktie
 Odor of Whisky
 Pieces of broken glass were found in his clothes and a strong odor of whiskey was easily discernibe.
 With the exception of slight laceration of the skin on the left knee, the body was not bruised
 The man had evidently recently recov- cred from spell of sickness, as his body and limbs were terribly emaciated.
 It is supposed that the man had been drinking and sat down on the crossties and dropped off to sleep.
 Motorman Patty regrets the accident, but says that it was impossible for him to avert it, as the was almost upon the man before he discovered him. An effort will be made to locate Fankey's relatives or friends. and the remains will be held until something can be heard from them.