Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-22
LIE IS CRUSHED OUT
a Nan. Supposedly william F. Nc.
Laughlin. Of Green Bay, Wis.
Meets Horrible Death.
Attempts to Cross Between Cars Of
q Central Freight and Is Ter.
ribly Mangled.
Arson Willard Saves the Lives Of
Two Drowning
Girls.

Following close upon the intense ex-
citement OF Monday nights murder was
shocking accident that occurred this
afternoon at 1920 o'clock at the Third
avenue crossing, when young man,
supposedly William F. Mclaughlin. Of
Green Bay, Wis, was crushed to death
by his own carelessness in attempting
to crawl through an Iowa Central
freight train that was standing on the
crossing.
The train was the through freight No.
80, which had just pulled into the city,
in charge Of Conductor Pat Keefe, of
Oskaloosa. 1t was necessary here to do
considerable switching, and switch en-
CINE No. 80, in charge of Engineer Jack
Moreland, was delegated to do it. The
crossing gates We're down, while the
work was to be in progress, but Nc
Laughlin did not heed them and, with a
companion, Peter Kane, attempted to
cross over, stepping up between two
box cars, and onto the drawbars. No
sooner had he got in his perilous posi-
ton than the switch engine coupled on
and. Of course, Jared the train This
threw Mclaughlin over to one side and
caused him to lose his hold. The engine
pulled ahead Immediately after the cou-
ping was made, and before Mclaughlin
could get his hold. AS consequence the
man was thrown to the ground, the
wheels OF the heavy car passing entire
ly over his body.
ONE LAST CRY.
One last cry of agony escaped the
mans lips, and he was dead The cry.
however, could be plainly heard, and
with his body cut entirely in two there
was just spark of life left and with his
hands the unfortunate man attempted
to drag himself from under the wheels,
Kane was Mortified at the scene, and
the accident had happened in so short a
time that he could lend no assistance
whatever. He did take hold of his com
panion. however, and pulled him from
under the train. Life was extinct, for
number Of witnesses to the accident
who were on hand in less than a minute
afterwards found him to be dead.
The sheriff's Office. Coroner Lerle and
Chief Surgeon H. L. Getz, Of tho com
pany, We're telephoned for and arrived
shortly after the accident occurred. An
examination showed that the lower part
Of the body had been severed complete
~. allowing the entrails to flow out
upon the ground. The face was badly
bruised and the mans chest was
crushed almost to pulp. the spinal COL
uinn being broken, as well as every rib
The body was carried on a litter to the
freight platform, by several men, I'M
der the supervision of General Yard
master Chapman. Deputy Sheriff Gar
lvey took charge of the remains, and the
body was moved shortly afterwards to
the Densel & Wilbur parlors What
told the greatest part of the story was
broken bottle, with the odor of whisky
very apparent in its vicinity, which was
found lying under the body when it was
picked up. Kane, who was with Nc
Laughlin when the accident occurred,
is alleged to have been under the infiu-
ence of liquor also.
Mclaughlin, If that be his correct
name, was young man 25 or 26 years
of age. He has been employed until re-
Gently on the contract grading work of
the Northwestern. and boarded at the
Quarry camp. He came to the city Mon
day morning in company with several.
friends, and has been drinking a good
deal
William Connolly, another Northwest
ern man, who came to the city on the
same train mclaughlin did Monday,
says that he had been with Mclaughlin
less than two hours before he was
killed, and had bought him drink at
a depot saloon. He says, and Wilt
testify at the inquest. that Mclaughlin
was intoxicated then.
The dead man was quite we'll dressed
and was not bad-looking young man.
No one with him. not even Kane nor
Connolly. knew his name. The name
Mclaughlin was found in notebook
on the mans person, the address hav-
ing been written lengthwise on the In
side of the cover. and was the only
name contained in 1t.
The inquest over the remains will be
conducted by Coroner Lierle some time
this evening 1t is thought. There were
a number who witnessed the affair and
there is no doubt but that the death
was caused entirely on account of the
|carelessness of the dead man himself.