The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-27
STREET CAR WHEELS
CRUSH OUT A LIFE
j. A. Neff and Wife Are Run
Down and Man Dies of
Injuries

Within few steps of the door of the
church where they had been attending
services, James A. Neff and his wife an
aged couple. were run down by street
car at the corner of Lynnhurst and Uni
versity avenues yesterday afternoon at 1
o'clock. Neff was fatally injured and died
as he reached st. JoSeph's hospital. His
wife was seriously injured.
The old man and his wife, gray haired
and bent with age left the church door
with a number of other Worshipers and
seeing street car approaching, hurried
into the middle of the street as they sig
nailed the motOrman to stop. The car was
not in service on the interurban line, hav-
ing left the midway station bound for
the Como line, and was approaching at a
high rate of speed.
AS the car neared the crossing it slack
ened its speed and nearly came to stop,
when the old couple reached the crossing
Just as Mr.. and Mrs. Neff stepped onto
the track to cross to the opposite side in
order to reach the gate Of the car, the
motorman, John SilkwoTth, Thompson
avenue, again turned on the power and
ran them down.
Neff was thrown backwards, and fall
ing upon his wife, shielded her from the
car. He fell under the fender with both
legs across the track. His wife was dash
ed to the ground. but fell clear of the
car She suffered compound fracture
of the right leg and received a deep cut
over the eye.
Wheels Crush Neff
Neff had no chance to save himself.
and the wheels of the car passed over his
legs, crushing them below the knees
The injured mans first inquiry when
lifted from the track was for his wife.
Bystanders told him she had not been
seriously injured, but merely bruised.
Thank God for that he murmured. Il
would die if she were badly hurt" With
Joseph's hospital.
The car was stopped after going about
a length and a half from the spot where
the old people were struck Conductor
Cranberry ran to telephone to summon
aid. and Motorman SilkwoTth, with the
assistance of people from the church,
drew Neff from the track and lifted him
to the sidewalk.
DIR. F. l.. Beckley arrived a few min
utes after the accident and set to work to
dress the injuries of the unfortunat te
Joseph's ambulance arrived soon after. al
most at the same time. and the sufferers
were hurried away. Neff died as he reach
ed the hospital.
The body was removed to the county
morgue. where Deputy Coroner Whit
comb held post mortem examination.
He said that death had been caused by
shock and hemorrhage.
Mrs. Nen was In serious condition at
the hospital last night, suffering from her
fractured limb and other injuries. 1t was
said at Nhe hospital that she would re-
cover.
Though extremely weak, the woman was
able to give her account of the manner
in which she and her husband had been
run down.
Mrs. Neff Tells Of Accident
eve left the Methodist Free Mission.
at the corner of LynnhurSt and Univer-
sity avenues, and saw the car coming We
hurried across the sidewalk and into the
street, my husband waving his hand. The
motorman saw us and turned the brake
The car slowed down as it reached the
crossing and We heard the air brake ex-
hauSt as 1t slowed up. 1t was nearly stop
ped when We stepped on the track to get
across to the side the gate was on The
motorman then suddenly started the car
and that is all l know
Witnesses of the accident say that the
mOtOrman must have seen the old couple
on the track In time to prevent striking
them. as the car was practically at a
standstil when they stepped in front of
it,
Deputy Coroner whitcomb said yes-
terday that he would hold no inquest or
make no investigation, as "the death Of
MIR. Netf was plainly caused by casualty
and the law provides that no inquest is
to be held in such cases.
Motorman Silkworth said he thought
that the old couple would reIna in off the
track, and that he turned on the current
before they stepped in front of the car.
The police took the names of the train
crew and permitted them to proceed with
the car.
James A. Neff resided on a farm on
nue.. north of the city He was seventy
two years old and his wife was sixty FIVE
years old. He is survived by a married
daughter residing at Saltwater.