The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-12
SELECTS PAlLDtARER$;
DIES UNDER SH|FTtR
ID. A. Ford, Former. Soufhside Resi-
dent, Here on Visit, Ends
Life In ~ rribIe Manner.

After having carefully written a
letter addressed to b. III. Morrisset'
and Sons, undertakers. in which ne
detailed Instructions for the DISPOSE
ton of his body. outlined funeral ar
raxgements and selected his pail
bearers, D. A. Ford, aged 81 years
former resident OF South Rich
mond, last night threw himself IN
from of Coast Line shifting engine
at the Maury Street crossing or the
o. c. L. Fords body was cut In two
the wheels of the heavy locomotive
passing diagonally through the shoul-
der and upper part of the BODY.
After the body was view by Or. j.
w. BrodnaX, coroner, who deemed IN
quest unnecessary. 1t was removed to
the undertaking establishment named
in the dead mans letter.
The tragedy was witnessed by W. j.
billiard, OF 400 West Twelfth Street,
a watohman employed by the A. c. L.,
at the Maury Street crossing, with
whom Ford had been talking I'M
mediately before the shifter ap-
preached,
Act Carefully Planned.
Though Mr.. Ford had said nothing
to the Waterman in his last converse
ton, nor in any of those which had
preceded 1t during the last few days,
the careful preparation for the dis
position of his body Indicates that he
had contemplated self destruction for
some time. He had concealed his tie-
signs upon himself, letting slip no
hint In either word nor act. but his
several recent trips to the Waterman g
post make it evident, now. that he had
selected that particular crossing as his
exit from the world. and that he had
waited for its opportunity to get past
the Waterman.
II was aboL. sac o'clock last night
when his opportunity came. He was
standing beside the tracks talking
with Mr. billiard, just as he had done
on several previous occasions. The
shifter came along at the usual yard
engine rate. a moderate speed, one
track distant. Several feet inter.
vened bc~veen the man and the loco
motive, and Just before the shifter
came abreast Ford stepped quickly
away from the side OF Mr.. billiard
and ieaped into the air. 1t was al
most a headlong dive and Ford came
down upon the track, a bare foot
n front of the engine. There was no
possible chance for stopping It, and
the wheels -ploughed through the
mans body. Death was almost In
Simultaneous.
Plainly Suicide.
The police were summoned and
Coroner Broadnax was called. Pa
trolman Sharp. of the Third Precinct,
and DIR. Broadnax examined the mans
clothing and found the letter to the
undertakers. This letter made II so
plainly a case of suicide that inquest
was deemed unnecessary and the GUS
tomary placing of the engineman
under arrest on the technical charge
of homicide was not ordered. The
names OF the men on the LOCOMOTIVES
Engineman Roberts and brakeman
K,pightor. were taken by Policeman
Sharp. for his report made to the
Third Station.
The letter of Mr.. Ford instructed the
underwriters 10 provide for him a gray
hearse drawn by four gray horses and
to have his body Inferred In Maury
Cemetery. In which the Letter states he
owned a section. The letter also con-
tained instructions as TO floral decor
ations, wreath and the inscription
To defray the funeral expenses, Mr.
Ford asked In HIS letter that the in
sIraace nal1ey -oY hts life, be collec-
tea by the undertakers, who. after
deducting their charges, should send
the balance to his daughter. Mrs. Jack
son, at Columbia. s. C.
In his letter To the underwriters. Mr..
Ford requested that Messrs. ID. L. Pull
liam, J. r. Robertson, S. r.. Owen, Ju-
Illus Snellings and c. l.. Page be pail
bearers
The funeral will be held at o'clock
this afternoon from the Morrissett
undertaking parlors and interment will
he In Maury Cemetery
Mr. Ford is survived by one son.
Oscar Ford, of South Richond. and two
daughters. Mrs. Kirby and Mrs. Jack
son, of Columbia, S, c. and by Mrs.
]. o. Vesssr, of this city, sister,
nementia, induced by poor health,
for his act.