The Newtown bee., 1906-03-23
CIRCULATION
I en Pages.
New Milford.

SAMUEL c. COOPEY KILLED AT MER-
 WtNSyILLE.
 Samuel c. Coopey, aged about 34
 years, a brakeman on the milk train which leaves Bridgeport at Il O5 a. m., was taken with an epileptic it just before his train stopped on siding at Merwinsville, Saturday afternoon, at 2. 45, and fell from the car directly up on the down tracks, and was struck and instantly killed by the Pittsheld express which dashed by>~a moment
 later. Coopey, with his wife, had boarded for some time at $ COlumOia
 street, Bridgeport, but more recently ] had been living at the home of Charles
 Smith, Main street, Stratford. When
 the milk train stopped at the siding
 for the express to pass several train men unloaded a number of empty milk cans and carried them across the tracks. At the time several asked for Coopey, as 1t was part of his duties to unload the cans. No one seemed to know just where he was, but all thought he was forward on the engine with Fireman Howard. Just before the express was due, at 2. 45. Engineer Coffey of the milk train and his bag gage master and tlagman, Bartley Fahey, were talking on. the rear plat l an object on the outside tracks. The } object proved later to be Coopey. Both men hurried toward Coopey, whom they did pot recognize at the time, when the express, in charge of En- gineer Minor Lyman and Conductor Lane, rushed around the curve. There was no time for Engineer Lyman to bring his train to stop, and the COW: catcher of the locomotive caught and hurled the body of Coopey to one side: The express was stopped within 2OC feet, and the tram crew hurried back and reached the body a moment later than Engineer Coffey and FlagmaI Fahey. Engineer Coffey was especial
 ly affected by the sight of his brake
 mans body, for he had come to know and value him as a friend. Engineer COffey stated after the accident that as we'll as he could see, Coopey appear
 ed to be in a sitting position with hi' back toward the Oncoming express when the locomotive struck him. l
 was not known for certainty jus
 how the man chanced to fall from hi
 car. Upon discussing the tragic death
 Engineer Coffey came to the conclusion
 that the man had been attacked witl
 convulsion, ,and had fallen off the ca
 upon the other tracks. He was prob
 ably stunned by the fall. It appeare'
 to the engineer as if Coopey realize' lhis position, and was just sitting u
 when the express struck him. Tn
 mans skull was crushed like an egg
 shell and both arms were broken. Il
 his pocket was found receipt for las
 months dues in the Brotherhood 0
 Railway Trainmen. Besides this or
 ganization the dead man was insure
 in a Connecticut life insurance con pany. The stretcher from the mil
 train was brought, and the remain
 were placed on board and were take
 to New Milford, where Engineer Coffe !. gave the facts of the case to the col oneh Engineer Lyman of the expres:
 which reached Bridgeport at 4;
 stated that he did not discover tn If body on the tracks until his lOcOmOtiv rounded the curve, and then there wa '' no chance to save the man. The dt is ceased was a good looking young ma ,. and was popular with his brOthe S' trainmen. About four years ago b
 married New Haven young lady ia Mrs Coopey has been in poor healt = Nor the past year, and until mont s- ago has been at the New Canaan san m tarium, where she became greatly in
 proved in health. She returned
 Bridgeport short time ago, ,and wan le ed to begin housekeeping again, bu
 her husband thought it best to COT
 tinue boarding until she was entlrel
 recovered and strong again. The new
 of her husbands death was broken
 her as gently as possible, but she WE d nearly prostrated. She at once took - train to West Haven, and went to he 1@ parents home.-[ Bridgeport Tel' g gram. The body was taken to th U rooms of Funeral Directors F. G. Bel x nett & Son and on Monday afternoo $ was sent to West Haven, where tt k funeral took place'on Tuesday.