The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-03
She Was Ground to Pieces by n Street
Car i'm Plain View of Her Fran
tic Husband.
HER BODY BADLY MUTILATED
WITH HUSBAND AND FRIENDS SHE
WAS GOING TO CHURCH.
stepped from One street Car in Front
of AnOther-Stories Told by
Bystanders.

Mrs. John Riley, 2315 Arsenal avenue,
was crushed to death under the wheels of
street car yesterday morning at the cor
ner of st. Clair street and Massachusetts
avenue. Her body was dragged d length of
fifteen feet and was horribly mutilated be-
fore the motorman could stop his car.
Early yesterday morning Mrs. Riley, in
company with her husband and two women
friends, boarded a street car near their
home and started for church. They
alighted from their car at the corner of
Massachusetts, avenue and st. Clair street
and started to go behind the car and across
the street to the sidewalk, but on account
of the presence of the car from which they
had just stepped were unable to see the ap-
preaching Columbia-avenue car until it
was upon them. All succeeded in saving
themselves, however, with the exception
Of Mrs. Riley. who was struck by the car
and in plain view of her frantic husband
was ground beneath the wheels.
COULD NOT STOP CAR.
The motorman made every effort to stop
his car but was unable to do so until too
late to save the woman's life. Her body
was wedged under the car in such a man
ner that it was almost impossible to extri-
cate it and it was necessary to back the
car several feet before the woman's lifeless
form could be loosened from the wheels
The City Dispensary ambulance. attended
by Drs. Crockett and Mackey, was soon on
the scene, but the woman had met an in
slant death and their services were not
needed other than to carry her body to the
City Morgue, where it was retained until
called for by Adams & krieger, who have
charge of the funeral.
DR.. Gels, who held a post-mortem on the
body, said that death must have come to
her without pain, as the blow she received
on the head must have rendered her uncon-
Scious before she was otherwise injured
Practically very bone in her body was
broken and her face and hands were terri
bly, mutilated.
Bicyclemen Simon and Morgan, who were
on the scene shortly after the accident oc-
Cured said last night that they did not
going at an unusual rate of speed, as it
was stopped within fifteen feet of the spot
where the accident happened.
IN CHARGE OF CAR.
The car was in charge of Conductor j.
z, Phelps, 1903 Columbia avenue, and Mo-
torman Kinnck, 1925 Shelby street, and
both men claim that they are in no way
TO blame for the affair. The motorman
stated to the police that he sounded his
gong repeatedly when approaching the
crossing, and his statements are corro-
bprated by his conductor and several pas
sengers. On the other hand a number of
persons who witnessed the accident assert
that the mOtorman was negligent In max
ing the crossing while the other ear was
standing there inasmuch he failed to
sound his bell or give any warning and
was looking in the other direction when
the unfortunate woman stepped on the
track within few feet of his car.
Mrs. Riley leaves husband and several
children and the funeral will be held from
q
morning. The interment will be in Holy
Cross cemetery.