Nielsen, Sophus M. 1886-1911

NIELSEN

Posted By: Howard Pohlman (email)
Date: 1/29/2020 at 10:45:48

Nielsen Sophus M. 1886-1911

Ground to Pieces by Train
Sophus Nielsen, of Latimer, Meets Tragic Death Saturday Night on Iowa Central track South of Chapin.
Sunday morning an Iowa Central freight crew reported that a man had been killed on the railroad track a few rods south of the village of Chapin. The authorities here were notified of the fact. Owing to the absence from home of the county coroner, Dr. J. C. Powers, county Attorney Sherwood Clock called upon Justice E. L. Coldren to accompany him and conduct an inquest. Arriving at the scene they met a gruesome sight. Scattered along close to the rails for rods they found portions of a man’s body: the head, arms and legs were severed, and had it not been for the clothes and shoes worn identification would have been out of the question. These were recog-nized as the property of Sophus Neilsen of Latimer, a painter by trade, who had purchased them at Schlesinger Brothers store Saturday forenoon.
The body was picked up and brought to Hampton where it was placed in charge of Henry Proctor, the undertaker. The coroner’s jury returned verdict stating that Mr. Neilsen came to his death from causes unknown.
All that can be learned regarding that sad tragedy is that the young man was here Saturday and after purchasing a suit of new clothes and shoes, in company with companions he went to Chapin on the evening train to attend the farmers and mer-chants’ picnic. During the evening, at 11 o’clock, he and his friends-who had been drinking-got noisy and troublesome and the marshal notified them to leave town and the request of the peace officer was granted.
The supposition is that in leaving Chapin young Neilsen wandered south on the Io-wa Central right of way and laid down on the railroad track, where he went to sleep, and was killed by the first train that went by.
He was a single man. At one time he was a resident of Hampton. The remains were taken to Latimer where funeral services were held Monday.
Franklin Co. Recorder June 28, 1911