Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1919 — IN JAIL ON CHARGE OF MURDER [ARTICLE]

IN JAIL ON CHARGE OF MURDER

Arrest Made for Alleged Murder Of a Monon Brakeman. Dan Hartnett, a Lafayette railroader, was arrested at Frankfort last Friday by. Special Constable Harvey Moore of this city on a warrant issued from Squire Irwin s court, charging him with the murder of Earl H< ghes, the Moson brakeman who was found dead near Pleasant Ridge last October. The preliminary hearing was set for yesterday and was still going on at the court house as Th® Democrat went to press. Quite a number of railroad men were In attendance. Hughes was a brakeman on No. 45, the local freight running between Monon and Hammond, and Hartnett, who was a member of the Switchman’s union, a rival railroad organization to that of which Hiughes belonged, got on the train at Shelby and was permitted to ride to Monori by Conductor Ball. Hartnett had been drinking - home and had more liquor with him. He gave Hughes a few drinks, it is said, and 4£e latter became quarrelsome and complained to the condiuctor about, Hartnett riding on the train. The latter refused to order Hartnett to leave, and a heated argument arose between them over the matter. It is the theory of the state that a fight resulted between Hartnett and Hughes and that the latter was pushed off th? train and lay in a stupefied condition on the track until struck by la/ter trains and received injuries which resulted in his death. Hughes was'not missed until next morning when lie failed to show up to take up his duties on his train. An Investigation was made and his mangled body was found near Pleasant Ridge.. An Investigation was made of the affair in White county and a verdict returned by the coroner that Hughes met his death from foul play.