Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-08-26
John Conner Run Over and Killed
by Excursion Train

| y Ohu SOuuGI Auu ONCh uhN IAAhNN
by Excursion Train
Mr.. John Conner, "a young man
about % years of age, son of Mr.
William Conner OF near Alone, was
run over at East Lexington last
Friday night by an sion train
andkhad both legs cut off. He died
several hours afterwards.
Mr.. Conner had accompanied the
excursion to Hot Springs that day
and got off at East Lexington on
his return. He had been drinking
and it is supposed that he either
lay down on the track or fell, and
when the empty train backed out
of Lexington after unloading the
passengers the young man was run
over and cut to pieces. Both legs
were cut off just below the trunk
and his hands were mutilated,
Drs. Robert Glasgow and G. ii.
Davidson were summoned by Po-
liceman Walker, and proper sur
gical attention was rendered, but
of no avail.
DR.. A. d. Estill, county coroner,
summoned jury Saturday morn
ing and an inquest was held over
the body in the undertaking estab-
lishment of Warner, Pole d Co.,
where the remains were prepared
for burial. The following gentle
men composed the jury: Messrs.
R. S. Anderson, E. A. Moore, w. a.
Adalr, L. S. Burwell, Harrington
Waddell, j. NJ, Quisenberry and A.
S. Agnor.
The following witnesses testified
at the inquest:
Frank C. Tankersley: | was IN
the tank or pumphouse at East
Lexington, and was among the
first who got to John Conner. He
was drinking but not drunk. He
was first struck opposite the tank
or few feet above, and dragged
about 30 feet toward the station.
Was alive when found and lived
two and one-half hours.
d. B. Radford: Am car inspec-
tor, pumper and bridge watcher. G.
d. O. excursion struck John Conner
about IL O'CLOCK returning from
Lexington. Train backed out OF
Lexington and stopped at pump
house to take water. After train
left and was at the Y / heard some
one calling and heard smothered
cry. Went down track about sc
feet and found John Conner with
one leg cut entirely off and other
leg hanging and body lying off
track. AS the train crossed the
bridge l saw lights on end of plat
form and two or three men on plat
form.
Glenn Harlow: / was with John
Conner on excursion and saw him
get off at East Lexington station.
He was drinking but not drunk
enough to fall. / went to Lexing'
ton and came back on empty train
to East Lexington and got off at
pumphouse. The conductor and
brakeman with lights were en- rear
platform with me. | got off train
on side next to depot, walked back
length of one car and crossed over
track and walked up to pumphouse.
Body was found about thirty or
forty feet below where l crossed
the track. l was on rear end OF
platform as train approached tank,
felt no jar and heard no cutlery. ]
was the first person who got to
Conner.
The inoUsitlon was completed
at the Courthouse Monday before
Coroner Estill, and the following
veIdict was rendered:
"That the said Conner came to
his death about IL pm, August
81, 1908, near the station at East
Lexington, as result of injuries
received by being run over by an
excursion train of the G. d D. rail-
road backing from Lexington to
East Lexington"
The funeral took place Tuesday
morning at New Monmouth church,
conducted by Rev. Leon 7. Pressly
of Timber Ridge. Interment IN
New Monmouth cemetery.