The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-07-24
Continue Investigation in
Death of Max Schoen-
field at Antioch.
DEMAND RAILROAD ACT
Investigate 500 Railroads Re-
fusal to Put Up Signal and
Flagman at Crossing.

The investigation into the acciden-
tai death of Max Schoenfeld, who was
killed when the truck in which he was
riding was struck by a 500 line train
at an unguarded crossing three miles
south of Antioch on Tuesday evening,
was continued indefinitely by the
unanimous consent of the coroner's
jury and Deputy Coroner Edward Con-
rad of Waukegan, at the inquest held
at Antioch on Thursday evening.
The inquest was called to investi-
gate the circumstances under which
the Antioch and Kenosha fruit dealer
met a horrible death, and to place the
blame, If there were any to place,
upon the proper element in the case.
The room in which the inquest was
held was filled to capacity with vii
layers from Lake Villa and Antioch.
Indignation among these was aroused
to high pitch as result of the
death of Schoenfeld and the jeopardiz-
ing of the life of his business associ-
ate, Harry Wise, who was driving with
him at the time of the accident and
who was able to jump clear of the
tracks a second before the crash.
Continue Investigation.
Still under the care of a physician
Wise was able to testify for few
minutes before the coroner's jury
On the witness stand he showed clear
ly the effects which THE shock has
wrought upon him. He seemed ex-
ceedingly nervous and under an in
tense strain. For many hours after
he first saw the horribly mangled body
of his lifelong friend pinned under
the wreckage a hundred feet up the
track from the scene of the accident,
Wise had been in state of coma, At
the inquest he answered the questions
asked him by the deputy coroner in a
low monotone and several times he had
to be asked to raise his voice. His
face remained unchanged as he went
over again the details of the accident
as his troubled mind brought them
back to his memory. His blood-sh
eyes, the haggard lines of his pallid
facial accumulated his unstrung and
Bnervated condition.
Foreman Fowler Pledges Action.
other witnesses were called and
little by little the incidents leading
up to the death of the fruit dealer
were unwoven.
After all the evidence was heard
there was a general discussion of the
culpability of the railroad in leaving
the crossing unguarded The tragedy
occurred at the crossing of the 500
tracks and Highway 81. just north of
Lake Villa, and near the E. J. Leh-
sta+o -
Lake Villa, and foreman of the coro-
ner's jury, was particularly active at
the inquest in the attempt to sift the
story of the accident so that blame
may be Justly placed. 1t was pointed
out that several months ago the state
: highway commission had ordered the
railroad to install signals at the cross,
ing and to employ a flsgman. But the
answer of the railroad was that the
expenses of such action would be in
consistent with the amount of protec-
ton they would offer.
County Pushed Investigation.
County highway officers, according
to Charles E. Russell, superintendent
of highways of Lake county, frequently
have sought to influence the railroad
company to eliminate the grade cross
ing at this point, but it was said
that certain property owners in that
\ vicinity protested because considerable
land would have to be condemned.
The railroad company, it was said,
would be put to an expense of APP
proximately $4,000 to erect via
duct for its tracks.
States Attorney A. " Smith, of Wau-
kegan, declared at the inquest that he
would make an effort at once to get
in touch with the superintendent of
construction of the 500 lines and a
conference would be held in the very
near future with railroad officials to
see what could be done in the way
of preventing any similar accidents
IN the future.