Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-21

been an established rule at the store
that none but the operators run the
elevators. He also explained that on
every floor there were doors that lock-
ed automatically and could only be
opened from the shaft side He adj
mitted that the doors ia the basement
we're left standing open during work
ing hours,
DR.. ]. c. Souders testified that the
unfortunate woman neck was broken
in the fall and her jaw fractured, caus-
Ing instant death
Dave Corners, coIored janitor of the
store Who brought the cage back from
the fifth floor after the accident. stated
that he was able to get in the cage
on that floor by unlocking the gate
from the outside
Harry Higgins. proprietor of the tea
room, and Mrs. Higgins were both alb
sent from the store az the time the
accident occurred
Al times when Mr.. Higgins was alb
sent it was Mrs Collins duty to return
the truck TO the kitchen herself, and
she was forced to use the freight eIa.
vator TO accomplish this
Mother in Tea Room.
Mrs. Collins mother. Mrs. Eliza
Stephenson. was in the tea room in rhe
basement at the time the accident oc-
Cured Her first iutimati0n of her
daughters death came when two OF toe
clerks rushed into the room screaming
that Edna lNrs CouInsJ was lying in
the elevator shaft The clerks seemed
powerless to tell the mother of her
daughters death. ana when Mrs.
Stephenson attempted 10 enter The
room where her daughters body lay
she was restrained. Her sister, Miss
Ruth Stephenson. was working in the
Office on the fifth floor at the time.
Both we're removed to their home Ia q
taxi in hystericaI condition. Mr. Col
Inns brother. William, who is also en-
ployed at the store, was ont on an er-
rand at the time
It vas learned today that on Thurs
Gay Mrs. Collins was shocked while
turning off an electric light and rem
dered unconscious and did not recover
from the shock for several hours. Her
mother stated that Just before she
went into the tea room she was On the
first door. near the elevator shaft, and
while there heard her daughter calling
for the elevator man.
Bern in iowa
Mrs Edna G. Collins was born IN
BROOKLYN. Iowa. Feb. ,, 1890. When she
was but S years of age the family
moved to Rock Island and with the
exception Of tour years at Geneseo.
she had made her home here since. She
received her early education in the
schools Of Rock Island. Her maiden
name was Miss Edna 6. Stephenson
She was united in marriage TO Frank
Collins of GeRese0 in Davenport In
April. 1908. Following her marriage
she resided in Geneseo for four years.
Always bright and cheerful. kind
hearted and eontented she had Won a
large circle Of close friends who mourn
her unumely passing. Quick. alert and
always attentive to business. she came
TO be one of the most valued employees
in the tea room at Young & McCombs.
where she had been employed Tor she
past two years.
Those left 10 mourn her passing are
her husband and two children, Dorothy.
aged 6 and George. aged 4. her mother.
Mrs. Eliza Stephenson. four sisters.
Mrs. H. H. Pierce. Fort Madison, Iowa,
Mrs Florence Young. Mason City.
Iowa Miss Ruth, at home. and Mrs
Leona Husbands Of Moline, and one
brother. William, al home. Her father
passed away May &, 1871
Funeral services will be conducted
tomorrow afternoon at 8 O'Clock at the
Memorial Christian church. Rev. James
A. Barnett of the Christian church Of
Moline. officiating. Burial will he in
ChippisnnoCk cemetery.