The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-05
Belief That Falleys Were Killed
Without a Warning.
COrOner's Inquest However Re.
lieves Union Pacific.
DAUGHTER To TAKE FAs;...... Y
19-Year-OId Vera VIII Be
Mother to 5 Children.
Indebtedness of $4,000 Against
Their Truck Farm.

vera Fdlley, the 1S-year-old dduSh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Falley, who
were killed with their 3-year-old son,
at a Union Pacific crossing west of
town Saturday, was made guardian
of all the five other Falley children at
her own request, by Ralph Cav, pro-
bate judge today. Under the courts
order she will take charge of the
home and act as both father and
mother for the flock of little chill
dren. The youngest is a mere baby,
one and one-half years of age.
]. W. Cochran, a neighbor, was
named as executor of the Falley estate,
upon the request of the children He
has not yet qualified but is expected
to do so at once in order that numer-
to.
/ All of the remaining Falley family
spent the morning in Judge Gaw's
office. Vera and the Oldest boy aided
the court officials in Strengthening
out the tangle while two-a boy and
a girI-amused the baby. Except for
the baby, which will never know the
meaning of the words father and
mother, the children were still red
eyed from weeping over their loss.
Mortgage on Farm.
In the course of the proceedings it
developed that the Falley home ana
twenty-five acres of bottom land sur
hood of $4,000. There is a mortgage
of $1,000 against it and other indebt-
edness will bring the total up to
$4,000. There is also considerable per-
sonal property on the place and the
children say there is an insurance pol
| icy of $1,000.
Vera and Sam, the oldest boy, de-
! sire to keep the family on the home
place and proceed with the truck GAR
dening carried on by their father and
mother. They have been looking aft
| er much of the business the last two
years and are confident they can
carry it on successfully. The land is
all sowed and planted to vegetables
and neighbors say that If it natures
and is marketed it will produce good
profit.
While the children were helping
Judge Cav straighten out their af-
fairs, o. F. Narcotic, coroner, was
holding an inquest before a jury in the
court of Topeka. Eye witnesses to
the accident were placed on the stand.
Union Pacific Railway company was
! in no way to blame for the accident.
! 1t was stated today that while the
railroad company is not liable repre-
sentatives have stated it will gladly
| Join with the neighbors in making a
lscash contribution sufficient to remove
ttthe family from any INN ediate finan-
1sciaI stress.
i James Kennedy and Sam Tay Tor
two negroes, saw the accident Satur-
day and told the coroners jury OF it
4 Never Saw Train.
I One peculiar feature to the testi-
Emony was the statement made by
both that while Mrs. Falley was driy-
fling the car Mr.. Falley was sitting on
tthc left SIDE and the car they drove is
Elefl-hand drive. Neither of the wit
Inesses could be shaken in their state
ment as to the positions of Mr. and
Mrs. Falley on the seat of the aLtomo-
bile.
Both Kennedy and Taylor testified
that they were west of the crossing
waiting for the train to pass that Mrs
Falley, sitting on the right hand side,
was driving and that apparently she
did not sec the train. They testified
that Falley, on the left side, put his
head out of the car and looked up
1.-THE track west The baby, they said
sat between them.
| Both men testified that the engine
whistle vas blown twice before the
engine struck the automobile. Taylo1
described the manner in which Fal1ey
and the baby were killed. He stated
that the automobile was almost across
THE track when the train struck it and
that it wa; his belief that none of the
occupants of the car saw it.