The Cairo bulletin., 1906-09-19
HOLDS ILLINOIS CENTRAL CREW
RESPONSIBLE FOR p. j.
THlSTLEWOOD'S DEATH.
JURY WENT TO SCENE
That Train STOPPED at Cross.
ing-Others Were Not
Certain.
Verdict of the Jury.

|
we, the undersigned jurors sworn
| to inquire of the death of p. j. Thistle
wood, on oath do find that he came TO
| his death by fracture of the cerebral
vertabre and skull, and other injuries
| to the head and face, caused by jump
| ing from an Illinois Central Railroad
company's passenger train, No 20f,
north bound. while said train was in
motion, and falling into a coal bin
of the Cairo Water Company's pump
ing station. in Cairo, Alexander coun-
| ty, Illinois, on September II, 1906
we further find from the evidence
that the deceased p. j. Thstlewood,
met his death through the negl genceI
Ct the employees Of the said train.
Coroner McManus heid at inquest
yesterday mcsning a; 10 O'Clock at
Falconer's undertaking establishment
I to inquire into the death of the late
p. j. Thistlewood who jumped from
a moving train Monday morning and
was instantly killed. The verdict of
he jury was TO the effect that the
negligence of Illinois Central railroad
employees lead to Mr. Thi:tlewood's
death.
Capt N b. Thistlewood, brother of
ffe decedent. who was with his
brother when the accident occurred,
was the first witness to testify His
evidence was practically the same as
the details given in the newspaper ac-
counts of the accident
Seth Washum, colored, head fire |
man at night at the waterworks, was
next to testify. He stated that he
heard the train whistle for the cross
ing but was inside of the plant at
the time and could not state whether
it stopped or not Washum stated that |
about 5:15 O'Clock, aOout two hours
after he had seen the Captain just as
the day was breaking. he had Occa
sion to go TO the coal bin, where he
found the lifeless body Of p J. This
tlewood. whom he Gid not recognize
al the time. He tclephonod police
headquarters. Washum stated that the 4
body was lying with the head facing
his employment at the watcrworks If
he had noticed whether or not all the
trains stopped at the crossing of the
Big Four The witness replied that
he had known many of them to slow
up but not to come to full stop. He
had seen both passenger and freight
trains do this lie couldn't tell
No. 20i stopped Monday or
not, as he was inside the pant at
the time
Conductor J. O. Zimmerman, who
was in charge Of the train, was the
next witness 10 testify lie stated
tlat his train which is due 10 leave
Cairo at 2:20 a. m was late and did
not leave until 2:5S a. m. Hc stated
hat he didn't konw c;incr Capt This
lewood OF The deceased we're on th
rain. He said his train, No2 %. was
IN the third track and No. POS was
IN the first track when It came in. As
'oon as No. 213 rolled into the depot.
his tran departed.
When asked If al trains were sup ,
losed TO come 10 full stop a. the
Pig -Four crossing he stated that they T,
ve7e. When asked If his rain stopped /,
'n the morning in question. he stated /,
hat il did. Then Mr.. Zimmerman eN-
,lsined that sometimes The engineer
'ulls his train up nearer the Gro sing
han at other times. according TO the
.xisting conditions There il a sharp !
,urve just before reaching the /,
'rosing and switch tracks on either
ide. 50 that .Dmetin.vs view Of the /,
Biz -Four track from the 500 foo
'oard is not 10 be mad Mr. Zimmer-
nan was asked if the porter told bin
hat Captain ThistlewOod and his
'rOiher were on the tram and want
o gei OF The conductor stated the :
'orter told him and De- Instructed
he porter 10 help them on when the
rain stopped "a the crossing NJ.
stated that the train :
topped and the porter never said p
nything more abuuf the matter to :
lin and that he dii not know the 9
ccident had happened until last =
igh- when he read al account Of b. y
n the 81 Louis payer Mr. Ziimmer- 2
nan was asked IL IL Wa not the con y
motors duty 10 assist passengers on =
nd OF trains. The latter replied that ;