Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-25
Mangled Remains Discovered
Near Hayesville.
He WAS In OTTUMWA YESTERDAY
Moses Smith, a Grocer, Found Lying
Across the Rails Horribly Mansled
Il The Accident Occurs Near Hayes
willie Some Time Last Night.

I1SuflCh, DSC. Go.--iSpeCltiJ --iLilSi
ally cut in two pieces at the stomach,
! the mangled form of Moses Smith,
prominent business man of this city,
was discovered last night at IL o'clock,
one and one-half miles south of Hayes
vile, lying across the rails of the Mil
swaukee railroad track. He had been
KILLED by an east bound Milwaukee
Mfreight train. The remains were taken
EEssto Hayesville. Smith was engaged in
Ss;the grocery business here He leaves
U wife and number of children. He
was in Ottumwa yesterday.
Discovered by Section Men.
Hayesyille, Dec. % Especially -
The death of Moses Smith of Hedrick,
while somewhat mysterious, is viewed
in this city in the light of an accident.
s Mr.. Smith left the Milwaukee train
gs1lere on which he had come from OF
Etumwa. IT. is supposed that he fell
{ s.asleep when the cars passed through
sSHedrick and was carried on to this
place. Upon arriving. here about ~
O'Clock he awoke and left the coach.
He borrowed a lantern at the store of
George Richardson and left for home,
i, walking south on the track. His body
;Twas discoveredw about II o'clock one
!, and one-half miles south of this place
aAlying avross the rails. His feet and
part of his body was outside
the rails and the remain
der of his person between the tracks.
He was cut in two at the stomach.
The remains were brought to this
place and taken to the depot where
they remained until this morning
when they were taken to Sigourney.
A coroner's jury was empaneled but
the inquest was postponed until to-
morrow forenoon.
Theories.
When Mr.. Smith entered the Rich
ardson store here it was noticed that
he had been drinking. He fell while
in this place of business and injured
his face but it was thought the cold
air would bring him to his senses
when he started home, hence not very
much attention was paid to him. No
more was seen of him until his man
gled form was brought in by the sec
ton men. 1t is thought now that Mr..
Smith was a great deal more intoxi--
Gated than his appearance indicated
The belief is strong that he stumbled
and fell, striking his head on one OF
the rails. it is thought this stunned
him, probably rendering him uncon
scious after which the wheels of an
g eastbound train did the rest.
Was No Murder
Hedrick, Dec. 23.-(SpeciaD- was
reported here this morning that
Moses Smith had been murdered and
his body thrown on the tracks in order
to conceal the crime. 1t is known thai
he had between $50 and $50 ON his
xt.I,nn I, ~
terday. When his body was fount
= his possession. 1t was also said tha
s he left Hayesville with an unknown
person. These things gave rise to tn,
murder rumor. but the man whom MI
Smith was in company at Hayesvill
proves to be Morris Stroud, respect
ed resident of that city against whom
there is not breath OF suspicion
Stroud stayed at Hayesville all nigh
and did not accompany Mr. Smit
down the tracks as it was reported tn
mysterious person did.
Smith Leaves Wife and Children
Mr.. Smith had been in the grocer
business in this city for seven Q
eight years. He was married an
leaves wife and four children. H
was slightly more than fifty years {
age and was in fairly good circun
stances.
An Incident.
When Smiths body was found, hi
lighted lantern, which he had borroy
cd of the Hayesyiile merchant wa
lying five of six feet away, lighted, an
right side up. This gives rise to til
theory that he was much more intoS
Gated than the people who saw him ;
Kayesville thought and that upon a
irving at the point where he was kille
carefully deposited the lantern outsit
the rails danger line then stretche
between the rails to sleep. The ia
that the trainmen did not suspicie
anything wrong when they saw Il
lighted lantern, cannot be explained
Smiths remains are in Sigourne
where they We're taken this afternoo
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