Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-31
BODY OF POLICEMAN Is
FOUND ON TRACKS
SUNDAY A. M.
INQUEST IS HE'LL
WIDOWS FATHER MET TRAGIC
END TWO MONTHS AGO AT
STREATOR--hOME OF POLICE.
MAN ENSHROuDED IN SORROW
AS RESULT OF TRAGEDY.

Caught in death trap al East
street, while walking to his home al
i:lJ o'clock Sunday morning, Special
Potroman John Nelson. q member Of
tho Ottawa police force. was instant
ly killed by ROCK Island freight; his
dead body being discovered between
The two sets of rails by a pa5serby
several minutes after the accident
First suspicious that Nelson had
met With foul play were readily wiped
away when circumstances surround.
ing his death were closely invcstigat.
ed BY brother officers Tho side OF
his head and body being crushed aud
by powerful impact broken limb
and other injuries found upon tho
remains after q close Inspection pre-,
clndod any possibility Of the tragedy
being traccablc TO human agency. Two
trains that passed at the East street
crossing about the time Nelson reach
I'd there are held responsible for the
fatality
Two Trains Passing. ---.-...
Though Nelson was alone at the
time the natural deduction in view OF
the circumstances Il that the Off cer
stepped ont from behind one freight
as II passed. directly into the path OF
ehe other where he was struck be
fore he could save himself. The posi-
ton of the body, together with the ma
ture of his injuries Indicate that The
steam chest on the engine struck
him squarcly on the side.
According 10 Chief Of Police George
Zurich. who made thorough inquiry
into the mishap, Nelson probably was
tightly bundled up in his heavy over
coat, and probably walked with his
head covered by his ulster collar
When the one freight passed he start
ed homeward aud as fortune would
have il the second freight reached
the crossing at the same time, il,
noise being drowned out by the rum
bic Of the other.
Body Between Tracks.
Nelson's body lay between the cas-
and west bound tracks in Il pool o.
blood, His hat lay several feet east
Of the crossing, while his gun an(
pocketbook were found near the hat
1t was his custom. friends claim TO &c
home for n midnight lunch. walkinl
on Marquette street. instead OF follow
ing the Rock Island railway. For thi'
reason II Is not supposed he was
caught on the old feeder and rul
down by a train from behind
Nelson was at the Rock Island sta
ton at O'Clock where he helped thu
baggage men load west bound pass
engcr. From there he started direct
~ home, II being his custom to ca
his lunch at about that hour. walkin,
TO bis abode, which is located at tn,
corner Of Third and Sycamore streets
l'c had not boen home according /,
MS wife, who had prepared his mea
and left II for him.
Home Enshrouded in Sorrow.
information Of her husbands doatl
was not borne TO Mrs. Nelson IN i
several hours after the accident
Netghbors were with her when worl
OF the tragedy was broken to her
They remained with the little famil,
'hc rest Of the day trying to console
inc grief stricken woman and he
Two daughters, all Of whom were nca
collapse as result Of the shock LEI
by the painful tidlngs.
Second Tragedy in Two Months.
The death OF her husband upon tn
heels OF the tragic death of her fath
" IN Strcator on October q. has le(
Mrs. Nelson In grave condition. Johi
" Francis, her father, was kille
Wnen 4 brick wall fell while he an
unotbor man We're working beneath /,
ioln We're dead when tboy were tob
en- fhppe beneath the debris.
Nelson a New" Man.
Nelspn became an extra" on the DC