The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-22
KILLED AT a CROSSING,
Emmett Gardner Instantly Killed
by Being Struck by a Train.

Emmett Gardner Instantly Killed
by Being Struck by Train.
A terrible accident occurred at the
railroad crossing just west of Q. w.
Hoffman's residence, mile north of
Leon, about o'clock Monday after
noon, when a south bound freight train
struck wagon in which we're Emmet
Gardner and his son Bert. resulting in
the instant death of Mr.. Gardner
They had been to Leon With a load of
hay and were returning home. Mr..
Gaadner was driving and was sitting on
the cross piece near the center of the
I hay rack, while Bert was on the south
side of the rack on the outside board.
just as the team came on the right-of-
way the horses started up and they
saw train coming from the north.
Mr.. Gardner attempted to pull up the
team, but could not do so, and the
horses had just crossed the track when
the engine struck the center of the.
wagon. Bert was thrown on the east
side of the track about three rods south
of the crossing and his father was car
ried about the same distance and thrown
was equipped with air brakes and the
train was stopped before the caboose
bad passed over the crossing. Bert
escaped with sprained leg and some
bruises, but his father was instantly kill.
ed, the whole top of his head being
crushed off, his jaw broken and his
right arm broken in numerous places.
His mangled body was picked up by
the train crew, placed in the caboose
and brought to the Q depot, and later
taken to Bonser's undertaking rooms.
The team stopped as soon as the
wagon was struck and were not injured,
1t was reported that the team was
running away at the time, but Bert
Gardner says they were walking until
they were on the right-of.way and did
not start until just as the train struck
them. He, together with several per-
sons who were close by testified that
the train did not whistle for the cross
ing.
Mr.. Gardner was one of the best citi-
fzens of Decatur county, slowing hus-
band and affectionate father His wife,
two sons, two daughters and numerous
relatives and friends are left to mourn
his untimely death.
His remains were taken the same eye
ming to the home of his father, from
which the funeral services were held
yesterday afternoon at O'Clock con.
Quoted by Rev. Castor, the services at
the cemetery being under the direction
of the K. p. lodge of which he was Vice
Chancellor.
Coroner McAllaster and jury com.
posed of E. o. Alexander, #. F. Bedier
and b. w. Garrett held an inquest Tues
day at which time several witnesses
were examined, the inquest being then
adjourned until yesterday at l o'clock
at the request Of the railroad company,
who desired to have the train crew tes-
THY, but they did not appear, and the
following verdict was signed and return
ed:
We do find that the deceased came to
| his death by being run over by q freight
train OH the G. B. 4 @. r. r. at the
crossing west Of the residence of g. W.
Hoffman, in Center township, Decatur
county. Iowa. Said train was an extra
drawn by Engine No. 1927, in charge of
e. NJ. McEndree, engineer. That ac-
cording TO the evidence submitted said
engineer failed to give the required sig
mails and that We believe the death OF
Il The deceased resulted from such negli-
The following is in substance the tes-
timony before the coroner's jury.
BERT GARDNER.
Being sworn, testified in subst ance.
am Il son of S. +. Gardner deceased. L
was with my father yesterday when the
accident occurred. We had brought a
load of hay TO town and were going
home. AT the crossing west of G. w,
Hoffman's in the public road when
about one or two rods from the railroad
track noticed that the horses started
to run. My father, who was driving at
tempted to hold them, but was unable
to. They ran in front of the engine.
the wagon being struck by the engine
just back OF the front wheel. l was
carried with the rack distance of three
rods and was left on the east side of the
track. My father was carried about the
same distance and left on the west side
of the track. l heard no whistle or
other alarm. The first indication of
danger that saw was the fact that the
team was frightened and were running.
My father tried to hold them but was
unable to. The train stopped beforeit
had entirely passed the road. MY
fathers hearing and eyesight were good,
and my own hearing and eyesight are
good. The train was coming from the
north and we were facing west, the
direction in which the team was going.
The team is gentle and we were driving
ina walk.
BERT wooDARD. ~
testified that he was outside his house
near where the accident occurred, and
noticed the train but did not hear it
whistle; although the whistling post is
within sight of his house. He also
testified that he came near being caught
one day last summer by train at this
same crossing, and that he heard no
whistle at that time.
A. j.. HUGHES.
testified that he was going north of
town, and saw the train standing on
the crossing. but heard no whistle.
CHARLES W. DINaMAN
testified that he was passing on the road
just north of the crossing, near DR..
Bakers farm with P. S. DERRICK, when
the train passed them. He was noticing
the train, and said positively that there
was no whistle for the crossing. He
heard the train whistle for the crossings
up near Grown, but there was no whistle
sounded for this crossing. After the
train had gone on past them he heard a
shrill whistle and several short whistles
and noticed that the train had stopped.