Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-07-27
KILLED ON TRACK
Michael ]. MADDEN IS KILLED
BY CAR TUESDAY night.
Pioneer Saw Mill Nan Meets His De- tn
While Asleep on the Electric Car
Tracks. Conductor and rtOtOrman
are txOnerated From all Blame for
the Accident.

Michael J. Madden, of Pc Ell, vet
eran of the citvil war an a pion-
eer saw mill man of Hoquam, met
his death about 1880 Thursday
night under the wheels of trolley
car running between Hoquiam and
Aberdeen. The accident occurred be-
tween Twenty-fourth and Twenty
fifth streets, Hoquiam.
The car was running at the usual
rate of speed and the night was fog
gy, so that the motorman could not
see more than few feet ahead cf the
car. Madden, who had been drinking
heavily, had started to walk from
Hoquiam to Aberdeen, and is believed
to have stumbled and fallen across
the tracks. The motorman did not
see the man on the track until too
close to stop the car. He applied the
brakes, but the car slid on the damp
rails, and the body of Madden was
pushed and rolled about forty feet
before the car was brought to
standstill. The body was horribly
mangled, and it is believed that
death was instantaneous.
Coroner Girard held an inquest on
the remains Friday evening, and the
jury returned a verdict eXOnerating
MotOrman Scov and Conductor DAM
tito from all blame, finding the acci
dent to have been unavoidable. The
testimony went to show that Madden
had been intoxicated, and in walking
to Aberdeen, had fallen on the track
and dropped off asleep, and that, ow-
ing to the fog, it was impossible for
the motorman to see more than few
feet ahead of the car.
Madden, who is said to have con-
siderable property at Pc Ell, was well
known among the early settlers on
Grays Harbor, he having helped build
the Northwestern mill at Hoquiam in
1882, and was head sawyer in the
mill for several years after it was
built. He had not been in Hoquiam
before in 20 years.
From a letter found on the body, it
appears that Madden had come to
Hoquiam with the intention of get
ting married to Mrs. Mollie Fuller,
who arrived a few days before from
Dodge City, Kansas, her fare having
been paid by another man who also
expected to marry her. The follow
ing is the letter:
MY Dear Soldier BOy,-I am at
Hoquiam, Wash. l did not come
through Chehalis or Portland, but
through Tacoma. Changed cars
there for Hoquiam. l seen the man
l came to see, but I never told him
who l was, but made him believe I
wanted to rent one of his houses.
He don't know I am the one he ex-
poets on the oath or 25th. I won't
have him; he has only one eye, and
is so homely l almost tainted. His
photo wasn't his he sent me. He
don't know am here, and I want you
to come so l can talk to you and
maybe l will go home with you If
you want me to. l am going home
in a few days. l am crying now and
am so lonesome. Mickey, l came so
far guess if you want to see me you
can come little ways. BY by. Your
old GIRL Mollie Fisher. (Call for
Mrs. Smith,"
Written on piece of paper bag
was the following:
Don't write, but come. I called
my name Mrs. Smith so he would not
know that was Mollie Fuller"
1t seems that Madden had known
the woman for some years, and want
ed to marry her. When he called on
her Thursday he was intoxicated, and
she dismissed him, telling him to
come back when he got sober. She
was also in correspondence with two
men in Hoquiam, one of whom she
will probably marry.
Mrs. j. b. Skeen, stepdaughter of
Police Officer Kempter, is an heir of
Madden. being daughter of bro
ther, Thomas Madden, who resided
many years at Montesano, where Mrs.
Skeen was born 19 years ago. Mrs.
Skeen will go to Pc Ell tomorrow to
investigate the property left by her
unfortunate uncle.
The funeral will take place this
afternoon at Hoquiam under the aus
pices of the Odd Fellows, of which or
der Mr.. Madden was member.