The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-22
Details of Death of
John Connors of
Olneyville.
NOTHING new WAS DEVELOPED.
Judge Clarke Listened to-
Other Stories Of Vio-
lent Deaths.

NGpSLGls sept. -l.-1 ne utldllS OF In6
untimely and mysterious death of John
Connors of Olneyvule, r. L, were re-
viewed today, when Judge Henry j.
Clarke held a long inquest in the Web
ster district court.
The matter is still as much of a
mystery as when the body was found
cold in death on the tracks of the Nor
witch and Worcester Railroad, near the
Chaseville crossing, the morning of
Aug. 20, by flagman who had been
sent to flag an approaching train
All the arguments and evidence that
Medical Examiner Cary C.Bradford and
Deputy Sheriff Maurice p. Glare can adj
vance has not or will not convince the
relatives Of the deceased that the man
was Killed by the cars. Michael Con-
nors, a brother of the dead man, was
ln-court today, and listened to the tes-
tlmony and it was clear that he took
but little stock in the theory that his
brother was killed by the cars.
j. Z. Wheeler, a state inspector, was
on hand and questioned the witnesses.
He is of the opinion that other than
cars ended Connors' existence. When
til after dinner, Mr.. Wheeler and DR..
Bradford had quite an argument over
the matter
Station Agent A. J. Christopher, of
the local depot, was an attentive spec
tator. but he was not called upon to
offer testimony. He still has his origi-
nal opinion that the cars did not kill
Connors.
DR.. Bradford. the first witness, said
that he found three cuts on the head,
one above the left ear, which penetrated
the brain and fractured the skull. The
left ear was ground off and hung in
shreds, The right ear hung by the
upper portion. There were no other
marks of violence on the body. The
clothing was clean, and with the ex-
ception of a few drops of blood about
the neck, was not soiled.
Judge Clarke then remarked that he
understood that there was a co11trover-
sy about the matter and big difference
of opinion in the case, and that he
would like to hear all of the details.
DR.. Bradford gave the cause of the
mans death in his opinion that he at
tempted TO board the freight about
1890, while it was moving slowly. He
fell off, slipping backwards, and the
trucks caught and pinched him. The
ears We're ground off, evidently, as
pieces of flesh were found on the
fianges of the rails.
Gould the body have been dragged
any greab distance and not mutilated?"
asked the judge. The doctor replied
not a great distance.
Wouldn't the body if it had been
dragged any distance, say three feet,
show the effects of dirt, etc. ?"
IF 1t was being dragged slowly, it
would not show the effects of it, said
the witness.
Wouldn't the clothing show it?"
asked his honor, but the, witness did
not think so.
The other ear was then discussed. The
witness said that the lower portion of
it had been ground off. 1t was found
under the flange of the rail. This ear
was thought to be a vital part of the
evidence at the time.
You saw no indication on the cloth
ing that the body had been dragged any
distance asked the judge. Dr. Brad
ford replied that he did not, but that
the side of the face showed that the
body had been dragged a few feet, as
1t was scratched, and the outer layer
of skin was missing in some places.
Were the wounds received such as
railroad accidents would cause?"
Yes" replied the witness and he
then explained now the accident oc-
CURED in his opinion. He said that the
man fell from the slowly moving train
and that one ear was taken off by the
trucks in falling and the other by the
wheel itself
Can you recall a case when a per-
son has been killed by the cars and the
clothing not disturbed in the least?"
The doctor replied that he could not
Joseph Flauet of Norwich brakeman
was the next witness. He was the first
to discover the dead man. He said that
the body was cold and almost stiff. Dr.
Bradford, Sheriff Glare and officer Os-
borne claim that the body was not cold
or stiff. The witness said that the
clothing was not soiled and that there
We're no marks TO indicate that it had
been dragged, as it would have to be
in case of its kind.
The hearing was then adjourned I'M
til after the officials could procure din
ner, when, at lis. it was continued.
Officer Gilbert Osborne was the first
witness at the afternoon session He
said that the body was not cold and in
detail told all he knew about the re-
markable case.
Dwight left of Norwich, conductor OF
the train that passed through Webster
ahead of the train that discovered the
man, testified next He remembered
that night of seeing two men standing
on the Main street crossing about 1886
which was usual occurrence, ard
when he was informed of the accident,
the recollection of these two men re-
turned to him He had his engine ex-
amined, and failed to find any evidence
that his train had struck any BODY on
its way north.
Maurice P. Clare. deputy sheriff, and
chairman of the Webster board of So
lectmen, was the next and last Wit
ness He said that the body was not
cold and quite limp, with all the ap-
pearances of not having been there very
long. AS he finished his testimony he
said in an emphatic manner thar he
was satisfied that the man was killed
by being struck by some portion Of TIE
train in attempting to board it.
The majority of Webster people ard
outsiders who have followed the cage
from the start still maintain their first
opinion, that the man met death by
other means than by the Gears. The
family of Connors and the railroad off,
Gals are still more firm in their de-
cision now if anything. The affair will
probably go down into history as an
other one of the mysteries of Worcester
county.
Judge Clarke will review the testi-
mony and submit his decision IN writ
ing to the supreme court in few DAVIS
The Connors case did not end the IT.
quests. There were three others. The
proceedings in court today lasted
through the entire day.
An tnQllpef wa ba1d o,,o,