Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1899 — FATAL ACCIDENT. [ARTICLE]

FATAL ACCIDENT.

Judge Hammond's Only Son Is Killed While Attempting to . Board a Monon Train at Roachdale, on Christmas Day.

The sad news was received here Monday afternoon that Edwin P. Hammond, Jr., only son of Hon. E. P. Hammond of Lafayette, had been instantly killed at Roachdale, about 40 miles south of Lafayette, while attempting to board the northbound Monon train, which passes through Rensselaer at 3:27 Ph m. It seems *the young man had gone to Bloomington on Saturday to visit a young lady friend, Miss Lena Triplett, to who it is said he was engaged to be married. Monday the young lady accompanied him on his homeward journey as far as Roachdale, she returning home on the southbound train. Mr. Hammond had just assisted Miss Triplett onto the southbound train and as her train pulled out started to board Mris own, which was moving out at the moment. He attempted to board the front platform of the chair car, and in order to make it easier caught hold of the railing and ran along with the train a short distance. A break in the platform where the I. D. & W. road crosses the Monon caused him to lose his footing and he was thrown to the ground, his head striking either the wheel or end of the chair car. He was not carried under the car but was dragged a short distance, and when pickek up was lying between the traek and platform with life extinct. There was a gash on the back of the head and on the temple and the right arm was crushed at the shoulder. News of the accident did not reach Lafayette until the arrival of the train which had killed the infortunate young man, the conductor leaving an overcoat and valise at the Columbia street ticket office with the report that they belonged to a young man who had been killed at Roachdale and who was thought to be the son of Judge Hammond. A hasty examination of the property showed that this was too true, and friends broke the sad news as gently as possible to the Judge and faimly. An inquest was held Monday evening and the remains were taken to Lafayette, where they remained until yesterday morning, when they were brought to .this city and taken to the home of his sister, Mrs, W. B. Austin, to await burial. The funeral was held at 10 a. m., yesterday from the Presbyterian church, Rev. J. P. Dale of the Second Presbyterian church of Lafayette, conducting the services, after which interment was made in Weston cemetery. Edwin P. Hammond, Jr., was born in Rensselaer, March 1, 1873, and was the third child of Judge and Mrs. E. P. Hammond. He graduated from the Indiana University in 1895, and in 1897 graduated from the law department of that institution, since which time he has been associated with his father in the law business at Lafayette. He was a close student and gave promise of becoming a shining light in his profession. Of a happy, jovial disposition, he was very popular and was highly respected. His sudden and tragic end came as a shock to his large circle of friends.