Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-08-03
DROVE 70 HIS Death.
LOUIS McELHIEKY KILLED TUES.
DAY EVENING BY THE
BRANCH TRAIN.
MET DEATH NEAR THE DEPOT.
Nj. MeElhinny Thought He Had Time
to Gross, But Five Cars Backed
Onto Him-was Killed
Instantly.

At 7so5 O'Clock Tuesday evening
Louis McElhinny, a plasterer, who
lived OF East Liberty street, was
almost instantly killed while trying to
cross the Chicago 4 Alton tracks at
the depot. McElhinny was driving
south on Western Ave-, and while
driving up the bill TO cross the tracks,
was warned to stay back, as he was
In danger. Thinking that he atili had
time to get across the track In front
of an approaching q MoElhinny
whipped his horses and was caught
by a string Of i've cars, which had
been clicked" down the track by the
engine used TO pull the freight on the
Jefferson City branch.
When the cars hit the wagon II was
completely demolished and Mr.. Nc
ElhInny was drawn under the wheels
and almost instantly killed; his neck
was broken, breast mangled, both
legs crushed and left arm broken.
The remains were taken to the City
Hall, where Coroner Bridgford held
and inquest last night and the jury
returned q verdict as follows:
coRoNERs JURY VERDICT.
The jury, on their oaths, do say that
said Louis McElhinny came to his
death byibeing accidentally struck by
Chicago and Alton train No. 1s9, in
charge OF Conductor e. B. Williams
and Engineer James Hill.
HI. L. STEPPELMAN, Foreman,
v. r. MORRIS,
8. ]. REYNOLDS,
JOSEPH OFFUTT,
g. P. GREGORY,
r. N. ARMSTRONG.
e. Med. BRmaFoRD, Coroner.
In the testimony given before the
coroner it is quite evident that Mr..
McElhinny did not use the proper
amount of canton. There were many
who attempted to stop him from try
ing to cross the track their cries were
UNDECIDED and the man drove to his
death. The horses were not hurt.
e. b. Williams, who is conductor
of train No. 13e, which killed Nc
Elhinny, said:
81 had been In the lower end Of the
yards looking up switches for boys 10
commence work and had started back
west and got as far as the oil house. l
was standing there talking to Jerry
Curry when | heard Brit Garrett call
Ing TO TO stop and when I
looked up / saw Brit standing ct the
crossing. He was waving his hands
and calling someone to stop; and the
wagon started across the track. I
would not be certain, but IL looked to
me as II Brit or someone are trying
to grab the horses and the man In the
wagon raised up In the seat and II
looked to me as though be struck
the horses with either the whip or
lines and deliberately drove In front
Of the care In hpite OF all the brake
man could do TO stop him. The cars
were running east and very slow and
he had plenty OF time to stop. I eame
up and saw what had happened and
went TO the station TO make ont re-
port, II necessary. I could not tell
whether he was dead or not. / can't
say whether or not the engine was
coupled to the cars when they struck
him. l am not certain but think
brakemanMoo was on the cars when
they struck him. i wal about 200
yards from the train when 1t struck
him. The engineers name is James
Hill. There was nothing to keep the
brakeman from seeing the man. We
were not making q flying SWITCH"
The stories told by other eye-wit-
nesses corroborate the above story.
Jerry Curry, O. e. Null, John Ray
and O. D. Sticky saw the accident.
Deceased was 81 years OF age and
leaves q wife and three children. Mi.
McElhinny was born in Miami county,
Ohio, and had been a resident OF this
city for g number Of years. Deceased
has two brothers living-A. ]. Nc
Elhinny, Of this city, and J. O. McEl-
hinny, of Hannibal-and two sisters,
Mrs. 8. A Morgan, Of DesMoines, Ia.,
and Mrs. Elizabeth Mace, OF Ottawa,
Kansas.
The funeral was held at 3 O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon from his late
residence in east Mexico, the services
being conducted by Elder J. A. Head
ington. The pail bearers were Vaughn
Crawford, John Wycall, Henry
BEauer, Jos. B. Miller, John Tucker
and CLAY Shepherd.
The bereaved family have the
sympathy Of their many friends in the
lose OF husband and father, so suddenly
taken away. Deceased was an Indus
trious, upright man and had many
friends who mourn his loss.