The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22
NASHVILLE MAN
KILLS HIMSELF
Frank H. Cornell Throws Him
self Under Car Wheels
AT TnF Fatal CROSSING
Prominent Man of Tennessee Dies I'm
der caboose of the Southern Road
at the Twentieth Street Cross
ing-The. coroner's Verdict.

| Frank II. Cornell, a prominent citizen
of Nashville committed suicide by throw
ing himself under the wheels of a ca
boose of the Southern railroad yesterday
morning about o'clock at the Twentieth
street crossing His neck was broken
and when picked up he was dead.
Coroner Paris verdict last night was
that Connell came to his death under the
wheels of caboose of the Southern rail-
road while under the effects of dose of
cocaine. He stated that. In his opinion,
the cocaine was taken as relief from
terrible nervous condition, brought on,
he thought by financial losses. He had
information that the deceased would be
unable to collect insurance on the fac
tory which he owned in Nashville and
which was recently burned.
An empty cocaine box was found on
the seat in the waiting room which had
been occupied by Connell just before he
threw himself under the wheels.
Travelling on Business.
The deceased was president of the
| Nashville Chair and Carriage company
and was travelling in the south on BUSH
ness Several people saw the accident,
and they state that Connell stood by the
train until the last car reached him,
when he seemed to slowly and easily
place himself under the wheels. Several
people ran to him, but he was dead
The deceased was well dressed and
wore a handsome Jeweled Masonic key
stone, diamond ring and a gold ring.
In his pocket was $42 .62 in paper currency
and silver. Several letters from men in
Joliet and Nashville were also found in
his pockets. They either referred to in
ability to collect the insurance on the
factory which was burned OF demanded
money, or in friendly manner told
him to brace w and not let his financial
troubles lead to any rash deed. One from
President T. A. Mason of the Joliet Ma
| tional bank promised him financial sup
port. 1t concluded with a statement, ut
is entirely unlike you to give up now, but
it is unnecessary for me to advise you
not to commit any rash act
The Masons.
The remains of Connell were sent to
Nashville last night at 9 o'clock by
Lige 10y, to whose undertaking parlors
the remains were carried soon after the
accident. A telegram was received by
Lew Lazarus from the Masons of Nash
vile asking that the body be taken care
of and that expense be spared. A
telephone message from Mr.. Connells
son-in-law was received to the same eff
feet. The Masons of Birmingham took
charge of the remains as soon as Coro-
ner Paris finished his investigation.
accident were ]. w. Brady a fagnan
on the Louisville and Nashville. station
ed at the crossing, and Walter Brady,
standing on the front end of an l.. & N.
switch engine going in the opposite direc-
ton. Walter Brady made the following
statement yesterday afternoon about the
deed:
II was riding on the front of the Louis
Vile and Nashville switch engine run
ming north, and when about forty feet
from the Twentieth street crossing I saw
a well-dressed man standing between the
tracks. facing the Southern freight cars
which were passing in an opposite direc-
ton. When l got about ten feet from the
man / saw him shrug his shoulders and
fall softly under the middle of the ca
boose. Just as the engine l was riding
passed by l saw the rear trucks of the
caboose run over his neck and shoulders.
l jumped from the engine and ran to him.
He gave one violent kick of both feet
and was dead. He was bleeding freely
from a hole in his neck"
]. w. Bradys statement was:
II was standing at the crossing tagging
az usual l saw the man turn up the
tracks from the street, but, of course
had no idea of what he intended doing
He walked probably thirty-hve feet and
halted for few seconds until the South
ern extra train had almost passed him.
AS the caboose came by he squatted down
and fell forward under the caboose. The
rear wheels must have crushed him to
death as he lay motionless after the
track was cleared. Then a crowd began
to gather about the body"
Robert Self. an office boy In the sloss-
Sheffield Steel and Iron company. said
II was standing near the man when
the train was passing. He watched 1t I'M
til it was nearly by and then suddenly
jumped under the caboose."
Had Been Here Several Days.
Connel1 had been in the city several
days. He was present Tuesday night at
the memorial services of King Solomon
ledge in honor of Capt. James T. Meade
Friday afternoon he was seen in the wait
ing room of the depot by Coroner Paris
and several other people. Captain Wright,
the station policeman, talked with him
for some time. Yesterday afternoon Cap