The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-08
KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT.
y. NJ. Cain, a Former Decatur Coun-
ty, Killed in Auto Accident at
Santa Ana, California.

Many of the older residents of De-
catur county will be panied TO read
of the death of Mr.. James NJ Cain,
former we'll known resident of
Woodland. who was killed IN an
auto accident at Santa Ana, Cailfor-
mia, on April H. MIR. Cain had re-
sided in California for & number OF
years and was showing the sights
of Santa Ana to MIR. and Mrs. A. ID.
Beard, of Gallon, Ohio, when his
auto was struck by an electric car
and all three were instantly killed.
The following account OF the ter
rible accident is taken from the
Santa Ana Daily Register OF April
18th:
That moments carelessness in
driving an automomible was respon-
sible for the death of j. M. Cain and
Mr.. and Mrs. Beard is the awful
tragedy that occurred yesterday at
ternoon at the McFadden street
crossing of the Pacific Electric is the
generally conceded fact, though
there is also some criticism OF the
Pacific Electric on general principles
to the effect that its cars run too
fast inside the city limits.
One witness has stated that Cain
was riding east on McFadden street,
evidently talking to the man beside
him, and that he seemed to take no
notice of the railway tracks until
ten feet from them. He saw Cain
grab for a lever, and then came the
terrific crash when the electric car
struck the automobile amidship and
ground it down the track.
Motorman Bates said the automo-
bile came into view from behind the
house, and he was Of the opinion
that Cain killed his engine.
Witnesses state that the cars
whistle was blown on approaching
the crossing.
George West, an employe of James
McFadden, saw Cain 60 by toward
the P. E. crossing. Cain was talk
ing to Beard, who sat beside him.
West was one of those who helped
extricate the bodies Of the two men
from the wreck. Officer Lacy and
County Physician Wehrly arrived
and also helped. Gains body was
found toward the back of the ma
chine and Beard was close against
the wheel. The remains of the wo-
man were on the track about $50
feet from the street. Both legs had
been amputated, one arm broken
and her head injured.
Within three minutes after the
crash of the electric car against the
the wreck. About a dozen came
from the electric car, the front end
of which was smashed and glass
-, Ill In O
mOtorman escaped injury is puzzle.
Soon after the word was passed
along the streets that there had been
an accident, dozens of automobiles
and bicycles rushed to the place.
Sheriff Ruddock, Under Sheriff Law
and Officer Lacy took down the
names of witnesses. Conductor
Trask also made careful list. Two
men who were on the car refused
to give their names. -.-..-.. ---..-.
The identity of the two visitors
was conjecture from envelopes found
in the woman's handbag, The ad-
dress indicated that the couple were
Mr.. and Mrs. A. d. Beard and that
they had been stopping at 915 south
Olive street, Los Angeles.
Coroner Winbigler arrived and
the officers turned the matter over
to him The bodies were moved to
the morgue. The fatal wound re-
ceived by Beard was blow on the
left side of the head, crushing the
skull. Gains skull was crushed on
both sides. Aside from these two
blows there was no other wound up
on Gains body. Beard had no other
serious wound.
Mr.. and Mrs. Beard arrived here
yesterday morning shortly before
noon, and went to the Santa Ana
Chamber of Commerce. They had a
card Of introduction to Secretary J.
C. Metzgar from D. w. McDonnold,
Orange county's representative in
the Los Angeles Chamber of Com
merce. They said they had been in
southern California about three
months. They wanted 10 see the
country about Santa Ana and Metz
gar walked out with them to see if
he could not find someone to take
them on a trip. Metzgar introduced
them to Cain. Mr.. and Mrs. Beard
also visited the Wilson & Wilson
realty Office. The automobile was
entered in front of Cain & brakes
Office in the Alexandria building on
North Main street, directly after
Cain had returned from lunch.
After the accident there was ru-
NOR to the effect that two or three
small children had been left at a
hotel by the couple. This has been
proven untrue. The couple had no
small children, and none OF their
children are in California.
1t was known that the couple were
from Ohio. This was further estab-
lished by letter found in Boards
pocket from Attorneys Talbot &
Talbot of Gallon, O., stating that
$1568.50 had been paid on note by
a Mr.. Bauer and placed in the bank
to Boards credit.
E. Poster, travelling man from
Los Angeles, saw the remains. He
said that he knew Beard in Gallon,
that he was we'll thought of and was
an employe of the Erie railroad,
Poister said he knew Boards grown
son well.
From the Sos Angeles address, it