, 1906-11-21
CoRoNER's JURY so DECIDES IN
MATTER OF DEATH OF SEC
TON FOREMAN COL
Inns YESTERDAY.
Last Witness Examined Was Section
Foreman Reimers, Who Had One
Leg Broken same Time and Who
Did Not See Collins After He Him
self Was Struck-Some of the Evil
dence Adduced This Afternoon.

The coroner's jury in the case of
Joseph Collins, who was run over and
killed yesterday afternoon, in the south
end of the railroad yards, this after
noon returned a verdict that Mr.. Col
Inns had come to his death by being
hit and run over by a switch engine as
he was standing on the track while in
the employ of the Union Pacific Rail,
road company as a section foreman"
Coroner Fitch held the Joseph Col
Inns inquest today, the jury consisting
of G. A. Campbell, William Cordiner
and Charles w. Spalding. The rail
road company's interests were looked
after by John H. Symons, local attor-
ney for the company, and by the COM
pany's claim agent. Everett Goyle of
Trainmaster Let's Office taking the
testimony of the witnesses in short
hand.
Several Trainmen Examined.
A number of trainmen were ex-
amined. Nothing new was developed
throwing light upon the movement of
the men toward the center of the east
bound track at the moment of the ap-
proach of the switch engine. Two of
the witnesses examined were Fireman
Matthews and Foreman Martin Han
sen of the switch crew. Neither saw
Collins fall.
Saw Reimers Struck.
Mr.. Hansen saw Reimers thrown to
side after being struck by the
running board of the switch engine,
and also saw the body of Collins come
rolling from under the last car of the
train of three cars and the engine.
He turned away, sick at heart at the
awful sight. He heard the man groan
two or three times and next saw him
lying by the side of the track, where
he had been taken by others and
where he probably died.
fastened to Reimers' Assistance.
Mr.. Hansen was standing on the
steps of the caboose and looked for
ward just in time to see Reimers fall
after being struck by the engine. He
fastened to the spot to help him, not
knowing that another had fallen under
the engine. He then saw the body of
Collins coming from under the cars.
1t was shown that there was about six
feet between the cars of the incoming
train and the footboards on the switch
engine, and that the two men, had
they stood still, would have escaped
all danger.
Both Men Stepped Backward.
1t is thought that both stepped back
ward from the freight train, toward the
east-bound track, just in front of the
approaching switch engine, Collins be-
ing between the rails and Reimers just
about the rail on the west side of the
track. There was no one on the foot
board on the rear of the engine, which
was backing toward the south. The
engineer was on the other side of the
cab, the fireman was busy with his
fires and the switchmen were on the
three cars being drawn by the engine.
The Japanese section men were on
the other side of the incoming freight
train. Mr.. Hansen believed that the
caboose of the incoming train was just
about passing the point where the &C
cident occurred.
Brother in Idaho.
From letters found among the effects
of the dead man it was learned that he
has a brother, George Collins, at Amer
lean Falls. Idaho, and a sister in Kan
sas. Coroner Fitch was able to
communicate with the brother. Col