New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-12
Train Running With Tender
Ahead on Berlin Branch
MAY HAVE BEEN SUICIDE
Yard Clerk Reports Seeing Stranger
iSkullkiRS Among Cars at Whiting
Strect-TTain Proceeds, Crew Ig
nOrant of Fatality.

The 11:13 train bound for Berlin
struck an unknown man, possibly 80
years Of age, short distance north
Of the Whiting street railroad cross
ing this forenoon, killing him instant
ly. The train was being run with the
tender ahead and the engine crew did
not stop. The engineer did not know
he struck anyone.
1t is possible that it may be a sui
eide case. Yard Clerk Coyle, who
passed up the railroad tracks, a few
minutes before the train came down,
saw Il man who answers the descrip-
ton Of the victim, skullling among
the cars. The stranger among the
ears was looking about as if waiting
for something. Iardmaster CoNlo
watched him Il few minutes and then
continued on his way. He coNld
have stepped in the path of the train
just as it came along without being
observed by the engine crew. The
man was truck by the flreman's side
of the engine. After being hit by the
engine the body was thrown back
onto the tracks of the siding. The
trackWalker discovered the body. He
was walking along the tracks and OBJ
served a cap and then saw the blood
stains in the snow. Looking further
he discovered the mangled body of
the man under freight cars on tho
siding Freight Agent Cosgriff was
/emm ediately notified and he called
Medical Examiner DR.. H. A. ElcOck.
DR.. Elcock looked at the body and
gave permission to Undertaken T. w.
Mitchell to take the body and prepare
it for burial.
The body was badly mangled The
unknown mans skull was crushed in
and half his head was torn off. His
left hand was taken off at the wrist
and he was disem bowelled.
The medical examiner said thera
was little to help in esta blishing the
identity of the victim. In the Doctors
opinion the dead man was about IS
years old. He probably stood five
feet four inches in height, had dark
complexion and black hair. He wore
O gray suit and a gray check over
coat, and tan shoes.
Woman Gatctende1 on Duty.
Rose Rayott, the gatetender at the
Whiting street crossing, said that
she stood at her post about five min
utes before the train passed and had
been talking with a woman. She did
not see anyone about, which adds to
the theory that the man jumped from
between the cars in front of the train.
,-he gatewoman said that the train
on approaching the crossing, sounded
the warning whistle and the bell was
ringing. The train did not stop or
slow down.
Engineer Gillette was at the throt-
1r L Conductor
George Thresher was in charge.
Freight Agent Cosgriff is conduct
ing a most careful investigation to
ascertain everything possible in the
case He will be glad to receive in
formation that will aid in establish
ing the identity of the victim. 1T was
reported that the man who was killed
| had been to a factory in the vicinity
! to draw his pay and this afternoon
an inquiry is in progress to find out
| if that is so. with the hope of es-
| tahGshing his identity
| The body will be held at MitchelTs S
| undertaking rooms for few days IN
| the hope of learning the name.
The order of the public utility COM
! mission to the N. Y, n. H. q H. r.
, r. Co, against the running engines
with the tender ahead was not made
| TO apply on the Berlin branch. The
! bill to prohibit the practice of run
| ming trains with the tender ahead was
| presented in the General Assembly
hy Senator George w. Klett
An Identification of the victim has
| been partly made. The N medical eX-
alniner has been informed that the
mans name was Joseph Menes and
| that he lived at Is Commercial sire ct
| (Continued On Fifteenth Page).