Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1908 — JOHN YATES KILLED BY RAILROAD TRAIN [ARTICLE]

JOHN YATES KILLED BY RAILROAD TRAIN

Popular Young Man Loses Life Thursday Night By Being Run Over By No, 3) Due Hero at 11:05. •

The terribly mtitilated body of John N. Yates, son of Mr. and Mrs.-W. L Yates, was brought to the Wright undertaking offices shortly after 7 o’clock last Friday morning. At that time it was not known whose body it was, the head and face being so badly cut that identification by means of recognition was impossible.* The first known that an accident had occurred was when the northbound fast passenger train, due here at 6:86 stopped, and the conductor reported to night operator Davenport that a dead body of a man had been seen on tbe track about three-fourths of a mile east of the depot Mr. Davenport called Coronor Wright and he, in company with others, went to tbe place designated. Coronor Wright took his undertaking ambulance along and several persons who had by this time learned that some one had been killed, walked up the track from the depot and assisted In gathering up t<ie parts of the body. It was at once seen that the body was that of some one that lived in or near Rensselaer, as the clothing had a tailor-made mark from the store of Duvall & Lundy and the hat had algo been purchased there. A watch with the initials I. N. Y. engraved in a scroll on the back free found near the track. The irretched manner in which the body was found can scarcely be described. One foot was found near the cattle pens and other parts of the body were scat-* tered all along the track for almost half a mile. After the body yras brought to the undertaking rooms, Coronor Wright began an investigation to identify it, and this vjas shortly done. The watch had been Repaired by J. F. Hardman and he f&und by consulting his record that it belonged to John N. Yates. - tether works at the Mger grocery store, where the son has also been employed, and he said that John had not come home during the night A piece of the clothing was shown to him and he identified it as the suit belonging to bin son, and Mr. Duvall also remembered it as a suit bis firm had sold John, and which had only day before been pressed by them. Dr. Myer later looked at the teeth and positively identified them by gold fillings he bad made only a few months ago.' The eanse of death was then an interrogation on every tongue. Many had seen John during the evening and during the progress of the band concert and he had seemed to be in tfcg very best of spirits. After the concert he had called on a young lady with whom be had been keeping com-1 pany for some months, and It was learned that he had remained there until about 16 minutes before 11 o’clock, and had left, stating that he was going away on tbe 11:06 train. He was next seen on the depot platform by Mrs. A. J. Hannon, who with Mr. Harmon, was there waiting the arrival of a relative. Mr. Hannon

did not see him, but Mrs. Hannon saw him look in at the depot window to see what time it was. She spoke to him and he replied by tipping his hat. He walked to the; east end of the platfpnu where Mrs. Harmon observed that he lighted a match, probably lighting a cigarette or cigar. She did not pay any further attention to him, but thought he went on east and it is probable he went straight down tbe track. ' There seems no doubt that he was killed by the 11:05 train, which was about 10 minutes late. The watch he carried was considerably injured and had stopped at just about 41:15. The minute hand was gone, but the hour hand rested just about quarter way past 11. At least five trains after that passed over the track and parts of the body. They were the fast south-bound train at 1:10; two through freight trains, the north-bound passenger at 4:80, and the south-bound passenger at 4:49. All of these trains went over the body, but it was not seen, or at least not reported, by any of them, and two of them went through in daylight, and there was' saig to be no fog during the early morning. Coroner Wright has deemed it advisable to hold an inquest to, determine* whether death was accidental or whether during; temporary aberration the young man had taken his own life by lying across tbe tracks. While there is considerable evidence, of suicide, the young lady with whtm he had spent the evening having upbraided him for some recent alleged bad conduct, there is also a strong probability that be may have decided to board tbe train, and having no money, he had tried to get on the front end of the train and had fallen beneath, the wheels. The cheerful and kindly disposition of the youth would indicate that he would not dp so rash a deed as to take his'own life, anff it is to be hoped for many reasons that the coroner’s inquest can establish that the death was accidental. John Yates was 18 years of age in June, although he seemed to be somewhat older than that He has been a young man sinee he was 14 or IS; 1n appearance, and he had always taken such great pride in hie personal appearance that be was regarded tbe best dressed and one of the most stylish young men in the city. He was extremely good natured and held the friendship of every one who knew him. When quite young he started to learn the telegraph trade and worked for some time in the ilrcal Western Union office and later went to Chicago and attended a telegraph school. After working a short time at this -he returned to Rensselaer and began work in Eger’s grocery store, where he has since been employed. The heart broken father and mother ere grieved beyond control and their sorrow is shared by the entire community and especially by those best acquainted with John.