Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 110, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1911 — Merle Hopkins Met Accidental Death in Indianapolis Monday. [ARTICLE]

Merle Hopkins Met Accidental Death in Indianapolis Monday.

Merle Hopkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Hopkins, of Monticello, and a grandson of Mrs. Mary J. Hopkins, of Rensselaer, was accidently killed at Massachusetts avenue and the Monon railroad crossing in Indianapolis Monday morning. He had apparently jumped from the train and struck his head against a railroad tie, meeting instant death. His body was taken to a hospital in an ambulance and it was not learned for some time who it was and Monday’s Indianapolis News spoke of him as an “unidentified well dressed young man.” The young man had gone to Indianapolis to go to work and had taken passage at Monticello on the night train that goes through Rensselaer at about 1:30 o’clock. The train is due in Indianapolis at 4:26 but ft was late and the accident is thought to have occurred at about 5 o’clock. The train does not make the Massachusetts avenue stop and according to a brakeman Hopkins waited on the platform for a little bit as though he was in some doubt about trying to get off. Suddenly he swung out and made the leap, but the train was going faster than he had calculated and he was pitched headlong and struck a tie, crushing his skull. The unfortunate young man was known here, having visited his grandmother here frequently. He had many friends and his death will be a great shock to them. He was a member of the Monticello militia company and the funeral, which will be held in Rensselaer, will be attended by several of his comrades from that city, and members of the local militia company have also been asked to take part. The body was brought here this Tuesday afternoon and taken to the home of the grandmother on River street. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 11 o’clock at the residence of Mrs. Mary J. Hopkins.