The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-15
LIFE GROUND OUT.
Charles B. Hardy Throws Him.
self Before Train.
Was Formerly Register of
Deeds of Kingman County.
WAS SENT TO ASYLUM.
Recently Became Insane Worry
ing Over Fees.
Supposed He Was on the Road
to Recovery.

Charles B. Hardy. patient at the
state insane asylum. but formerly an
officer of Kingman county, deliberately
took off his coat and threw himself in
front Of eaStbOund Rock Island DasSen-
ger train No 10 as it was approaching
this city at 8 o'clock this morning.
Nearly the whole train passed over him
b-eore the engineer could bring it to
stop and when picked up Hardy was
dead. His body was horribly mangled.
he having thrown his breast across one
rail, his feet on the other
Hardy had gone out into the garden
with r. H. Farrar, the gardener for
little exercise and the two had just
get a drink of water. AS they came
back the accident happened. The en-
gineer saw Hardy walking alongside
the track, but supposed the man would
step out of the way in time to let the
train pass Instead of that as the en-
gine bore down upon him, Hardy cody
removed his coat and threw himself on
the track after it was too late to stop
Hardy lived at Kingman and was
citizen of prominent connections there.
Six weeks ago he was brought to the
asylum, violently insane. Within the
last few DAYS he had greatly improved
and only Monday his wife visited him,
at that time expecting that he would be
taken home a well man within a few
months. He was about so years old and
has large family living al Kingman.
Hardy has been a leading Republi
can in that part of the state for a long
time In 1895 he was elected register of
deeds of Kingman county. continuing in
office until 1899. Two years ago he was
in the race for nomination for state
senator from that district and lost by
only few votes. Shortly after that he
received an appointment as special
agent for the inspection of government
lands in the department of the interior
his headquarters being al Springfield,
Mo. It was at Srinsfeld about two
months ago that he became first men
tally unbalanced. He was at once re-
moved to his home in Kingman, arriv-
ing there on Tuesday. On Saturday he
was taken before a court, adiudged in
sane and brought to the Topeka asy-
lum.
His arrangement may have been
brought about through financial mat
ters. While register of deeds, the state
Legislature enacted the fee and salary
bill providing that the county register
of deeds should turn over to the state
a certain part of the fees after their
sum reached a given amount. Hardy
contended that the law was unconsti-
/ tutional and worked on the theory that
I it would so be declared. He was a man
of little property. and when the fee and
salary law was declared valid the bur-
den of meeting some obligations in con-
nection with his office fell to his friends.
Although exceedingly honest, it is said
that he could not save money, and when
the time came for him to turn over the
funds which it had been declared be-
| longed to the state he was unable to do
so. Worry over this is believed to have
affected his mind.
| He was personal friend of Morton
Albaugh chairman of the Republican
state central committee and had large
acquaintance among the politicians of
the state.
Hardy was prominent in both the Ma
sonic and 1. 0. o. F. lodges.
/ Immedia tely after the accident the
body was removed to the asylum. It
will be shipped to Kingman for burial
after the coroner's inquest has been
/ held No blame can be attached to the
/ "a i1r0ad