The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-01

Suburban Car No. SO from the Beach
to Wilmington u over a nan lying il
the middle of the tracks a few feet
above Greenville crossing late last night
horribly mangling n instantly killing
him. The car vas the last to leave
the beach and had on it about sixteen
passengers who were returning from the
weekend dance at the Seashore Hotel
After passing G%reenville station and
coming oward town at a good rate OF
speed, suddenly MOtorman Horne saw
IN the middle of the track a man and
with the exclamation My God, 1 have
run over somebody" he applied brakes
and the car was stopped within a few
feet. .
An examination was at once made
and it was found that the man was
dead, his head horribly crushed and his
right leg entirely cut off 1t the knee.
Several gentlemen volunteered to
remain with the body till the car came
on to town and the coroner notified.
After reaching the city, a phone
message were sent to Coroner Bell.
The coroner replied that without there
was evidence of foul play the matter
was not in his jurisdiction. Chairman
McEachern. of the county commission
ers, was also called up and he said he
had nothing to do with the occurrence,
but he would advise that the Street
Car Company send after the body and
hT,no II RI TOWN Officials Of Tho o1-o-
paHy at ono sent for Undertaken Yopp
and on a special car which lift the city
at 2:3O O'Clock, the undertaken went to
the scene of the catastrophe. On this
car also We're Head Conductor John
Sheehan. Superintendent w. w. Merrill.
Dr. j. A. DOzier, of Southport and a
Messenger representative.
DR.. DOsher made a hurried exami-
nation of the wounds on the mans
person. 1t was found that the skull
MAS badly fractured and the, brains
THere knocked out, on the ground. The
Geft arm was broken above the elbow.
and also in the shoulder joints. The
fifth rib was fractured. The right leg
WAS u off at the knee and the left
leg was dislOcated at the hip. The
fnangled remains We're brought TO
town. Today they will be prepared
for burial by Undertaken Yopp and if
che body is not identified. the CONSOLE
CIted Company will have it buried.
\ search of the mans clothes showed
only Il few things such as cigarette
paper, matches and a small photograph
nothing that could assist in revealing
his identity.
The dead man appeared to be about
80 years of age. He was dressed in a
dark era coat. light flannel trousers
and white shoes. His hat could rot be
found.
And here is where mystery enters.
According to the statement of people
on the car the body was run over
possibly 100 feet above the Greenyille
crossing. The coat was found at the
crossing and the hat can not be found
al all. About the man there was found
no money or v~aluables of any kind.
The bruises on the head could have
been made with some instrument and
the mans body placed on the track
to hide Il crime.
There was no smell of whiskey and
no evidence of drunkenness.
Officials of the company do not hest
tate to say that there is suspicion of
foul plav and thew will insist on an
investigation.
When MOtOrman Horne saw the body,
1t was lying directly in the middle of
the track with the left leg thrown
over. The head was towards town.
They boz was dragged several feet by
III car and this accounts for the
broken leg and dislocated hip.
Passengers on the car say that Il
sharp crushing sound was heard when
the body was passed over and that the
car was stopped short and the search
made.
After reaching the city the motor
man surrendered himself at police
headquarters and at this writing he
is waiting to find out what is to be
done with him.
1t is the general opinion that no
one is to blame.
Either 4 drunken man fell asleep on
the tracks or 4 murdered nan vas
placed there. Only ar investigation
will solve This. Early this morning q
search will be made for any addi-
UOnal evidence II endeavOr will be
made to identity the man.
an - DHIA @xV--