The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-08-25
JOHN KIRWIN KILLED
Struck by a Train Near Alton juno
tion Saturday Night--Was For
mer Resident of Leon.

John Kirwin, a well known young man
who has made his home in this city for
many years until his fathers family
moved to Des Moines last fall, was
struck and instantly killed by a Bur-
lington train near Alton junction last
Saturday night. No one saw the acci-
dent, which gave some color to rumor
that he had met with foul play, but a
full investigation did not establish this
theory, and it is probable that whiskey
was the direct cause Of his death.
Kirwin had been working with the
steel gang on the Burlington road for
several years, being employed at the
time Of his death with the steel gang of
T. E. Casteel, who were laying steel near
Alton. His body was first noticed by
the engine crew Of No. IL lying at the
side of the track about mile west of
Alton junction and three miles east of
the town Of Alton, who reported the
fact when they reached Osceola, and an
extra freight leaving Creston was noti-
fed to investigate. When they picked
him up he was dead, the only injury
found on his body being big cash on
his head the skull being fractured, but
his body was not otherwise mangled.
At the inquest held on his body at
Alton Monday it developed that Kirwin
and three companions named Kelly,
Lear and Leak, all employees of the
steel gang left Alton Saturday night
about 8 o'clock for the purpose of walk
ing to Talmage station on the Great
Western road few miles east of Alton,
where they expected to take train for
had passes for all the party. They had
hoor n haforo loo A f4o,, o,,.l
when they left there was a quart bottle
of whiskey in the crowd. Kirwin when
not working was hard drinker, and
when near the scene where Kirwin met
his death, he told his companions to
walk on and he would overtake them,
and sat down by the side of the track.
The other three men went on to Tai
mage and went to bed, and when arous-
ed the next morning were told that
man had been killed near the Burling-
ton crossing. AS Kirwin had not Joined
them the men went to the place where
the body was lying and found it was
Kirwin. Part of the men remained
there with the body while others went
to send for the coroner. 1t was claimed
that when Kirwin left Alton he had
about $12 in money in his pocket,
watch chain and the railroad passes,
but when the coroner examined his
clothing all of these were missing. This
gave rise to the rumor that he had been
murdered, but the next morning the
passes and the watch chain were found
near the scene Of the accident, and the
general theory is that they were re-
turned to the place after the body had
been removed, as the passes were not
wet, although they were lying on the
ground, and it is thought that some of
the parties who remained with the body
when it was first found had removed his
money and other property, and then
when their absence caused talk re-
turned the passes and chain. All of the
party when questioned denied any
knowledge of the property. The physi-
clan at the inquest testified that the
blow on the head which caused his
death was such as could have been in
ficted by an engine hitting him, and it
is generally accepted that Kirwin was
under the influence of liquor and sat
down by the side of the track to rest
and was close enough to the track so
when train came along he was struck
on the head by the steam chest of the
engine.
The deceased was for many years a
resident of this city, being the oldest
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Nj. Kirwin, and was
about 38 years of age, unmarried. He is
survived by his parents, three sisters
and four brothers. His remains were
taken to Des Moines Monday, where the
funeral was held on Tuesday from st.
Ambrose church.