Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-12
D. H. FORD HURLS HIMSELF
UNDER SHIFTING ENGINE
rAecutcs carefully Laid Suicide
Plan, Meeting Swift Death
Under Wheels.
LEAVES MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS
Letter in Coat Pocket Directs Color
OF Collin, Number of Funeral Car
ria%cs and Names Of PaIIbearcrs.
Complained of Family Troubles.

-. III. Ford. nfty years old. a native
OF south fichmond, hurled himself be-
hcith the wheels of an Atlantic Con 81
Linz shiiNiS engine at the Maury
street crossing about O'Clock las,
hii;ht and was instantly killed Tho
body was badly ulan-lc,l
y letter found on the person al ,h,
dead man by ASsiStMr, Coroner Rrod-
max furnished conclusive proof tina,
FORD had carefully planned his dc.
S'ruc'i"n' IN" letter stated that fam
i!N troubles recently had proved TOO
Hri"rouS To bear. II instructed Under
t'kcr MorriScttc what Kind at coffin
TO use FOR the remains. told him where
INC body was 10 h" buried. made ar
rauEcmcnts FOR ,hc paymeut OF liz.
burial and funeral expenses ,icsirnatcd
me rh'!bcare:s. and asked that a floral
design which was described. should he
provided.
CAME 10 RICHMOND
FROM cola MHIN. =. G..
Ford was born i'll South Richmond
and made his home there for :, mum
boz OF years. He was a locomotive en-
Sinecr. and at one time WAS cmuloyr,i
! by tn" southern Railway About Gf-
teen years ago lie Went to Columbia
:. c.. where he worked as an engineer
! mp to several months ago. when he re-
: turned here Recently he has been
living with his brothcr-in-law g /,
Kahn. 1913 Hun street
About 6:"o O'Clock yesterday after
noon Ford arrived at the M:,ury Street
+ crossing and there engaged the watch
man, W. J. billiard. 800 IVES, Twelfth
street ~ conversation. The men
talked for some time, Ford kccpiu,.
careful watch on tho movements of
the shifting engine When it started
T." cross the street ana billiard had
lowered his gates, Ford was seen to
draw nearer the tracks. but billiard
] took II" particular notice. As the on
Etnc drew nearer Ford dashed toward
thc tracks, and without a word hurled
/ himself in front OF the LOCOMOTIVES The
"uGii" was too close 10 he stopped and
l, passed over his body. Thu wheels
cut off the head and mashed the
minutes before Iii" body could be re-
moved from beneath the engine.
LETTER. IN CO,T pOCkE:T
CONTAINS Ei\t:tAI. DIRECTION <
The letter found in one Of his coat
pockets AMI addressed 20 Cndcrtakrr
Mprris"ttc asked that the remains Ice
| buried IN section owned by Ford ia
Maury Cemetery !, requested fur
th"r. That I've hc buried in Il gray
ra"ket, that the hrarSc Nc gray in
color. and he drawn by four horses.
AVID that four carriages Ice used in the
! procession The letter requested that
I tho following act as palihcarcrs: = IL
! owen. ~ l.. huiliam Charles L. Page.
! Julian {. SncilinGS and j. +. Robinson.
J Il added that tho writer wa. insured
! aud that tndcrtaEcr Morrj.cttc take
/ charge Of the policy and thus secure
! payment for conducting the funeral
/ FORD. who married Miss Rosa Kahn
/ lost his wife about two wears. ago. lie
/ j. said TO have been inorosc since her
; death and ~ IL Thought that he wa:
/ mentally Unbalanced. He is survive,
J hy two daughters. Misses Lola aud
! S!an"lc Ford. OF Columbia =. c.. a
son. Oscar Ford, Of this city: $50 sis
! tors. Mrs. u. j.. Jack son, of Columbia
/ and Mrs Kirby, Of Richmond: and
niece Mrs. lnc4 NCrscr. I Nortl,
. Spruce Street.