Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1912 — MAN KILLED NEAR McCOYSBURG TUESDAY. [ARTICLE]

MAN KILLED NEAR McCOYSBURG TUESDAY.

J. Morphy, a Section Hand on Monon, Struck by Passenger Train at • 3:20 in Afternoon. J. Murphy, a section hand on the Monon railroad at McCoysburg, was instantly killed Tuesday afternoon at 3:20 o’clock when he was struck by passenger train No. 6, due here at 3:37. The train was pulling in at McCoysburg when the accident occurred. Murphy was struck on the left side over - the heart and hurled several yards. The ribs on the left side were all broken and a large flesh bruise was inflicted. His left leg was broken above' the knee and his left arm was broken above the elbow. When Murphy was picked up it is said by witnesses that he breathed a time or two. It wafe known by the section men he was working with that his name was Murphy and it was believed that he might have been of Catholic faith. Father John Schmitz, of_Remington, who a passenger on that train, gave him absolution. A later examination of the dead man’s personal effects gave no evidence of his being a Catholic. The body was placed in the baggage car and brought to Rensselaer. Coroner W. J. Wright was called. He immediately took Charge and removed the body to his morgue room. A thorough search of the dead man’s clothes gave no clue to his possible identity or address. The section hands, Chas. Ferguson, foreman, Herman Morecraft, Ed Weht, and Chas. Stultz, who were with the man when he was killed, came up from McCoysburg this Wednesday morning on the milk train and Coroner Wright held an inquest at 8 o’clock.

Thorough questioning by the coroner brought out very little evidence of vital importance, as the dead man was a stranger at McCoysburg. dead man’s life seems to be enshrouded with mystery and some believe that Murphy was not his right name. According to the testimony of* the section men they believe' that Murphy’s death was not accidental but that he deliberately planned his end and purposely stood on the track to be killed. The following is the summary of the evidence brough out at the coroner’s inquest: Murphy, together with the four section men mentioned, • were working on the north side of the track a short distance south of McCoysburg. When was about a quarter of a mile away from where they were working, Murphy stepped between the tracks and began leveling the road bed. The engineer made the usual whistle for the station but Murphy paid no attention and continued his work. The train was going at a high speed and the engineer blew the danger whistle three times. All this time the section men were shouting to Murphy to leave the track. They thought he was going to cross over to the south side. Still he paid na attention to the admonitions. Finally when the engine was still many yards distant, Murphy stepped over the south rail with his right foot, his left foot still remaining between the tracks; he turned, as if to look at the fastly approaching train, and remained in that position for a sfliort /time until the engine struck him and hurled him several yards. When he was picked up it is said he breathed once or twice, but it is possible that death was instantaneous. The section men say that he lingered on the track in the same manner that morning when train No. 32 went through. There was some doubt expressed as to the man’s identity, some believing that Murphy was an assumed name. There were no letters or anything on his person to identify him. His only possessions, it seems, were the clothes he wore. He had a tailored coSit, bearing a label on the inside pocket, of George Fritchner & Co., Tailors, of Louisville, Ky. On the label was the name J. A. WOrne and it was dated Nov. 2, 1906. This, however, is not positive evidence that the man’s name is Werne or is not Murphy. Murphy came to McCoysburg on Wednesday evening, July 24, just a week ago. He secured a job through an employment agency in Chicago and with nine other men, was sent by the Monon roadmaster to work on the section. Five of the men were employed at Thayer, while Murphy and the other three were, sent to McCoysburg. The other three men soon quit their jobs, one coming to Rensselaer to look for a job of painting. His name is J. Wagoner, but he could not be found here this morning. Murphy is to be about 35 years old. The section men state that, although be never acted queerly, and seemed at all times to be in a . normal mental condition, he was ‘ somewhat reserved and never talked

much. Several days ago he told one of the men that he had a sister living in New York. He did not tell her name, but he intimated that she was married and was possessed of some wealth. He told tjtiat his parents were both dead. That his mother’ died in New York City and left his sister and himself $14,000 in currency and a house and considerable prperty. He also stated that he got $7,000, while his sister got $7,000 and the property. It is not believed that it will be possible to locate his sister and in all probability the body will be buried here by the Monon. Coroner Wright is now waiting instructions from the Monon officials.