Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1908 — BADLY MANGLED [ARTICLE]

BADLY MANGLED

Was the Body of John W, / ; Yates. ' 11* ’ ’€* MILLED BY TRAIN THURStAY MDBBT Fragments of Body Strewn Nearly J Half a Mlle East From Cattle Pens. X■ ' . * The fast* Cincinnati-CMcSao train that passes tela city at 5:35 a. m„ stopped at the depot yesterday morning, wbtetflt does not iftftraHy do. and t reported that a man’s' body was scattered along the track east of the crossing at the maple grove og the east corporation Bne. Wright’s ambulance was called and the fragments strewn from the cattle pens east more than 90 rods, were gathered together and brought to town about 6:30 a. m. It that go one looked at a watch that was carried by the dead man, the duly thing that could give apy definite knowledge of the tfine of the killing. When the body had been gathered together and the clothes examined the . discovery was soon made that it was none other than that of John W. Yates, son oi l. W. Yates of thls city. Young .Yates had spent the evening with Miss Georgia Harris, and he left the Harris residence on Division street about 10:45, saying that he was going to take the train east that passes, here at 11.05. Whether he Attempted. to board this train or not will probably never be known, but,, that he was aboard of, for attempting to board an east bound train seems probable, as his shoes and a part ,of his feet were found near the cattle pens, while the body was found about half way down the long passing svrt'tcir laying between the rate ofßie main track with the head, arms and legs severed from it. The skull was also cut open above the eyes, making identification almost impossible. Several trains passed over the road between the time the 11:05 p. m. train and the train, the crew of which discovered the body, especially the fast Cincinnati-Chicago east bop nd train at 1:25 a. m., which does not stop here and runs on a very fast schedule. It being night-time and cloudy fft is possible that some of them passed over, and further mangled the body after the killing had been done. That the train crews knew nothing of this unfortunate affair is made clear by the fact that had they known it the matter would have been reported at once on discovery. And the fact that the killing had been done some time seems justified by the fact that the blood was dry on the rails and the mangled portions of the body. The future may shed some light on the affair, but at present it remains a profound mgptery.

.John W. Yates was 21 yearn of age, and was the third child and only wn'of Ichibod W. Yates and Grace Purcuplle' Yates. He was born in Rensselaer* and has lived' here all his life, except a few years spent on the . farm, which was near this city. He attended the city schools received his education here. Last summer he joined the Presbyterian church and has been a very regular attendant since that timeT His untimely death will be a shock to hl* many relatives and, friends. The funeral will be con* i ducted by Rev. Parrett from the home of his parents at 6 p. m. today.