Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-07-20
DEATHCAME QUICKLY
Mangled Remains OF Man
Found on the N. P. Track
Near Bloom.
Papers Found on" His Person
Indicate that He Was an
Operator.

Supposed That He was Steal
ing a Ride and Fell to
v His Death.
At about 7:30 Saturday the body
of a man was found on the Northern
Pacific tracks one mile west of Bloom.
The body was fearfu!ly mangled, the
head being severed from the trunk, the
lower limbs cut off close to the trunk
and the arms we're broken. The discov-
cry WAS made shortly before train No. 6,
the east bound passenger reached the
scene.
Coroner Baldwin and Justice Gaffney
vert out from jamestown and the re-
mains were brought to this city. From
papers found on the body it seems that
the man wae an operator 80 years Of age
and had enlisted as sergeant in the 10th
company of the q. $. signal corps on
July 8, 1893, spent thesummer of 1898 in
Ohicksmauga, Ga. and Admission, Ais,
and was honorsbly discharged from the
service December 8, 1898. On bis en-
listment papers appears the name OF
Howard 81. Craig, while letter Of IN.
PRODUCTION dated July II and signed by
NJ. Finan, general manager Of the North
ern Pacific telegraph office at Glendlve
gives the bearers name as Closby.
The coroner declded to wait a few
days before rendering q verdict. 1t IS
supposed that the unfortunate was rid
ing underneath the train No. 2. and fell
from his hiding place. He had but 81
IN money. A razor which he carried
was ground to pieces. A card was found
on his person with the words "Merry
Xmas, Love and Best Wishes, from
Ruth" Justice Gatfney will CORES.
pond with some of the parties whose
names appear on the communications.
(FkoM MONDAYS DAILY
No conclusion has yet been arrived at
.Segarding the manner in whlch Howard
d. Craig, the man found dead on the
track four miles east of jamestown,
came to bis death. II he was riding
underneath car it would be almost i'm.
possible for him to fall 90 that his lower
limbs and head also could be cut CT. II
is the belief of many that be vac mur.
dered and the body placed on the track
by hls murderers. 80 that it would b.
run over and msoRled and in this way
the crime might be concealed. Certain
marks on bis head would indicate that
the man had been struck blow which
would be sufficient to cause death.
Whether this was done by the tram or
some person is q question.
The absence OF blood where the body
was found, tsvors the theory that he
may have been murdered else here and
placed on the track. Two comrades of
Craig who come from the west With him
ss far as Mandsn say that he had quite
q little sum of money when he left them
at that place. He had but 81 when be
was found.
Crs,g's wife has telegraphed that che
would leave Kansas City Sunday morn.
ing for Jamestown. She also asked
that the funeral be postponed until her
arrival.
Two tough characters were arrested
in Valley City the same night that Craig
met his death. They held up two other
men and relieved them OF about 500.
They are held for trial and the police at
Valley O'ty think that they may be con.
nected with the. Craig affair.
A press dispatch from Kansas CITY
says: Howard q. Craig was tele-
grapher and formerly worked here. His
widow is now in this city. Craig's par
ents live at Jefferson City. where his
father ls an officer in the state penitenti.
ary. Craig was "a years old and enlist
I'd in the army from St. Louis.
Tramps claim that riding underneath
a train on the brake rods produces
sleepiuess and that accidents frequently
OCCUR as result OF the person riding 90.
ing to sleep and falling of. Some are
OF the opinion that Craig had been
drinking too freely at Maudan and had
not recovered from tie effects when the
accident occurred.
(FRoM TUESDAYS DAILY
Mrs. Ruth NJ. Craig arrived last night
from Kansas City, Mo. She has not yet
positively identified the man killed Sat.
urdxy morning 40 her husband although
the proofs that he 10 suoh are almost
convincing. She bad not seen him since
lsst January. The story that Craig was
Q member Of the Rough Riders in Mains
show 10 untrue - he was at Glendjve on
1.1v 70 and AZ Man6an Iulv IA Tha