Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1900 — Man Killed at Fair Oaks. [ARTICLE]

Man Killed at Fair Oaks.

Wednesday morning the news came to Rensselaer that a man had been killed by a Monon train at Fair Oaks. Coroner Wright Court Reporter J. W. Walker and Dr. Berkley at once started for that place by way of the local freight, the news coming too late for them to go by the milk route. A message from Mr. Wright about one o’clock disclosed the following facts, which are as near correct as he was able to obtain, at that time. The body was found about 800 yard south of .the depot beside the track lying face downward, and but slightly mutitated. It was of a man between 45 and 50 years old and about 5 feet 8 inches tall. He had a smooth face except for a mustache, and the tip of the right ear was clipped off, showing it • to be an old wound. From a letter on his person purporting to be from his sister, it is supposed that his name was Hawes A. Danforth, and his residence Massachusetts. It is not known whether he was on train No. 8, which- passes that place at abouUlo:3o p. m., or No. 31, the fast mail which passes there about 4:20 a. m He evident- j ly was riding on the step 3 of the j train and leaning outward, or else he had walked off the train. He was struck as he fell by a switch guard which the shock broke over, and was undoubtedly instantly killed by coming in contact therewith. From Mr. N. Littlefield, a form- | er resident of this place who is now in business at Fair Oaks, who saw the body, we learn that when found there was a revolver pr:truding from the right pants pocket partly dislodged by the fall and a considerable roll of bills could be seen beneath the revolver, while a quantity of small change vs%s scattered over the ground near by. He says it was evident that the switch guard struck the body on the Side where the pocket was located.