Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1909 — UNKNOWN MAN COMMITS SUICIDE [ARTICLE]

UNKNOWN MAN COMMITS SUICIDE

Throws Himself Under a Monon Passenger Train Near Lea. > " • IS BROUGHT TO RENSSELAER Monday Afternoon, But as Killing Occurred In White County, Coroner Westfall Came Over Yesterday and Took Charge—Body Was Badly Cut to Pieces—Will Be Kept Until To-morrow for Identification.

The northbound Monon train Monday afternoon run over and killed an unknown man just this side of Lee, and cut him all to pieces. The engineer and fireman say the man was walking on the long sidetrack just west of Lee, going east, just as the train got close by him coming from the opposite direction he deliberately jumped in front of the engine and was ground to bits. The train was stopped and the remains picked up and brought to Rensselaer and turned over to undertaker Wright. The place where the man was killed, however, being in White county, Coroner Westfall of Wolcott, came over yesterday morning to take official charge of the remains, having been notified by the railroad officials of the killing. Coroner Wright, however, prepared the body for burial, and unless identified by to-morrow it will likely be buried here. The man was smooth shaven, about 5 feet 6 inches in height, dark hair, turning slightly gray, weighed probably 150 pounds and was apparently 40 to 45 years of age. Not much was found on the body by which the man could te identified. In one pocket was found a worn leather purse bearing the ad in gilt letters scarcely discernable of the Chicago clothier, Wolf. The purse contained $9.75, a five, a two and and two one dollar bills, a fifty cent piece and a quarter. A small piece of plug tobacco, two papers of needles. a stub of leadpcncil and four or or five pieces of paper torn from a Chicago paper containing advertisements of land lor sale in diferent sections of the country. •He wore a dark suit, black derby hat, new black and white check shirt of cheap quality, but clean, a linen collar, size 15 with mark that looked like it might be a laundry mark, “722-" as near as could be deciphered, new socks with white feet, and number six or seven shoes not badly worn. The clothing was not badly worn and the two pieces of underwear were apparently new’ and clean. The head was severed from the body and one side of the skull badly crushed up, but the face was not mutilated. The right leg was severed at the body and both legs were broken. It is hoped the remains may be identified now’ that the undertaker has got them in a presentable condition, but at this writing no one has been found who saw the man although it is thought he must have gone through here Monday forenoon. The amount of money on his person leads the coroner to think that he must have broken a ten dollar bill for his dinner, 25 cents being the amount less than ten dollars found on him.