The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-18

George NJ. Stoeckingera turnkey at
the police station. was instantly killed
last night about $3.50 o'clock on East
Gregory street, between Tarragona and
Alcaniz streets, by street car No. 80.
He lost his balance and fell in front
of the car, the wheels passing over
the body, causing instant death. Cor
oner Landrum, after a thorough inves-
tigation rendered a verdict that death
was due to an accident and that the
conductor and mOtorman could not be
held responsible for the same. The
body Of Mr.. Stoeckinger was badly mu-
tilated. In fact it could not be recog-
nized, owing to the fact that the
wheels passed over the head and face,
crushing out the brains.
Was On His Way Home.
Turnkey Stockinger, who has been
serving as DAY turnkey At The state,
left the station early in the night, and
after spending a short while in the city
started home, boarding a Belt line car.
as was his custom. He caught Far
No. SO, which is vestibuled, at the
corner of Government and Baylen
streets, and, as he always did, stood
upon the front platform. conyersing
with the motorman. The car was in
charge of Conductor W. H. Fisher and
Motorman J. c. Harrington. NJ.
Stoeckinger engaged the latter in coll
evrsation, talking upon a common
place subject and continued the con-
versation until the accident occurred.
The car made the entire belt, stopping
at the junction at Palafox street for a
few minutes and then continued on
another trip. At the corner of Greg
DRY and Tarragona streets. Conductor
Fisher left the car to flag the L. & y.
crossing, and when he again boarded
the car jumped upon the front end.
For moment afterwards he stood III
the front doorway talking to Mr. Stock
niger, and was standing within a few
feet of him when he fell
Lost His Balance.
Conductor Fisher stated that Mr.,
was standing on the left
side of the car and all of sudden lost
his balance. He grappled the outside
upright iron post on the side OF the
car, but after he had secured a hold
upon the post his body swung around
almost in front of the car, and his feet
touching the ground, jerked his hand
hold loose and he fell underneath the
wheels.
There was a terrible jar to the car
as the wheels passed over the body,
and the car, which at that time was
going at full speed, was brought to a
standsttil within a few PAGES, as the
conductor had given a cry of alarm as
he saw Stoeckfnger fall in front of the
car.
Conductor Fisher, standing directly
in the rear of Mr.. StoecEinger saw him
as he swayed and fell. The motor
man, who was wearing an overcOat
with tall collar, did not see it at all,
owing to the fact that his back was
turned toward Mr.. Stoec1inser, al
though ne was listening to the latters
Struck Head First.
From the nature of the injuries il
seemed as though the body of the turn
key had been drawn under the car by
one of the wheels catching in hts over
coat. There is no doubt but that the
front wheel passed over the head, and
that the rear wheels crushed the body.
as he fell upon the left side and could
not possibly have gotten into the cen
ter of the track when he fell. except
by being thrown or drawn there By
the front wheels.
Body Badly Mutilated.
No one, not even his most intimate
friend, could have recognized the body
lying on the track as that of George
The face and portion of
the head were almost completely torn
away, being mashed into a pulp: the
left arm was broken at the wrist; the
shoulder and right arm were broken:
all ribs on the right side broken; back
broken; neck broken, bruises on the
right knee. back and right side, while
his overeoat, pantaloOns and coat were
badly torn.
While there were no indications of
such a fact, it is very evident that
when he fell in front of the car the
first wheel threw him into the center
of the track, and the brake beams and
wheels passed over him. causing the
injuries.
Stopped Almost Instantly.