Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-13
TWO DEAD MEN AT CORONER'S S
Bodies Of Jacob BeOhtel and Hugh Kennedy
Await Investigation.
FIRST IS FOUND DYING IN A BARN
other Chats with Engineer and IL
Crushed Under Tender when
AIiEhting from Locomotive
at Union Depot.

In the undertaking rooms of Coroner
Bradley, Twentieth and Cunning streets, the
bodies Of Jacob Bechtel and Hugh Kennedy
are lying side by side, awaiting the burial
arrangements to be made by their respec-
tive families. Bechtel died with what ap-
pears to have been heart failure and the
body was taken by the coroner shortly be-
fore o'clock last night. Kennedy was
mangled and instantly killed under the
wheels Of locomotive tender In the yards
just opposite the baggageroom door Of the
Union station at 7i45 o'clock.
The death Of MIR. Bechtel has as yet been
accounted for only liz theory, He is a
plasterer, and left his home at 2S10 North
Seventeenth street yesterday morning. to do
some work at the Rice property, Twenty
fifth and Parker streets. In the evening
when Mrs. A. w. Sherman of 2125 went to
to the stable in the rear Of the house to
feed horse she found him lying face down.
ward on the hay. with his hat beside him
and breathing so loudly that the gasp
seemed groans. Thinking the man might
be intoxicated, she notified her husband
upon his return and he, with Joseph Dona-
hue Of 2513 North Twenty fourth street,
went to the barn.
Dies on Being Moved.
Mr.. Bechtel was still alive, but died al
most Immediately after being turned over
so that he lay on his back.
The man was unknown in that vicinity
and as there was nothing in his clothing
to identify him, save a purse containing
so cents and a card, bearing the name Of
william p. McKittrick, 9sS North Twenty
seventh street, his name was not learned
until the body was identified some hours
later at the coroner's rooms by w. H. NAL
lory, neighbor, living at 2S12 North Sew
enteenth street.
Mr.. Mallory said he had lived next door
to Mr.. Bechtel for Eve years and that he
knew he rarely IL ever drank and never
to excess, and that he could not account
for his death. He recalled that Mrs. Bech-
tel had said a few days before that her
husband had once believed he had heart
trouble.
No Evidence of Violence.
The barn in which he was found is on
his way to his home from the place where
he had been working and he may have felt
the attack while returning and crawled
into the barn to rest until feeling stronger.
The coroner found not the slightest bruise
on his person and no indication Of poison,
but will investigate further today, when
the relatives are conferred with.
Bechtel had apparently no reason to
take his life, for he was in moderately
comfortable circumstances, owning the
-oe1y home In which he lived with his wife
and daughter, Nellie, aged 10, and a son
two years younger. He himself was As
years old, was Of German parentage, but
born in Ohio, and had lived in Omaha If
teen years. He had a brother, William,
living at the Pioneer house, South Twelfth
street. and two sisters, one in Wyoming and
the other at Casey. la.
Friendly Chat Proves Fatal.
Hugh Kennedy, who was killed at the
Union station, was a married man. 81
years old. and was employed in the boiler
works at the Union Pcifc shops. Emerg-
ency onicer Baldwin, who investigated the
accident, reports that Kennedy had climbed
into the cab OF engine No. 1853, drawing
eastbound Union Pacific passenger train
1No 2, to chat with Engineer r. j. Gentle
man and Fireman f. X. Chandler before
| the train was pulled on over the bridge
When Conductor w. w. Keen gave the
signal to start. Kennedy climbed out o.
the cab, but attempted to dismount facinl
| from the engine and held on with the
wrong hand. The impetus threw him
under the wheels OF the tender and al.
though the heavy train was stopped in
half cars length, the heavy trucks had
passed over him completely crushing his
skull. cutting his right arm almost OF
above the elbow. breaking 1t below the
elbow, and breaking his left arm above
the elbow. The left side OF his face was
mangled beyond recognition. his hips were
cut open, and he died as he lay, without
utterinR a sound.
The body was at once taken to the cor
oner's and station employe was sent Il
notify his brother. Daniel. formerly Of
| the police force. and Hugh's wife, at 274l
South Thirteenth street.