JOSEPHSON, John c1883-1933

JOSEPHSON

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 2/21/2011 at 18:41:23

ST. ANSGAR MAN KILLED MONDAY, STRUCK BY TRUCK
JOHN JOSEPHSON RAN INTO MARSHALL-SWIFT TRUCK AND INSTANTLY KILLED

St. Ansgar experienced its second tragedy within a week Monday afternoon, when John Josephson was instantly killed. It will be recalled that the body of a prominent former Nora Springs man, W.G. Hart, was taken from the river near St. Ansgar a week ago yesterday.

Mr. Josephson was hit by a Marshall-Swift truck from Mason City driven by Hermon Landon. The latter says he was at the intersection leading into St. Ansgar, just over the tracks, when Josephson came out from an onion field, and literally ran into the truck. Mr. Landon felt that the man must have been temporarily not himself, or wanted to commit suicide to run into the truck as he did. Landon saw him coming and tried to dodge him, but the door caught Tollefson?(Josephson) just under one cheek bone, and the blow on his head killed him instantly.

Josephson was a shoe cobbler and occupied a building nearby, with his shop in the front and his living quarters in the rear. His body was carried there. Josephson was 50 years of age, was unmarried, and has no relatives in this vicinity.

The driver was held until Sheriff Kathan, deputy, Bill Dorsey and Coroner Shelledy investigated and pronounced the death accidental, with no blame whatever attached to the unlucky Mr. Landon, who felt the matter very keenly.

Landon has been driving trucks and taxis for the past fourteen years, and outside of sliding into the ditch once or twice, this is his first accident. He has been coming to Osage for about four years on his regular route, collecting dry cleaning and furs.

Date of Death
July 2, 1933

St. Ansgar Enterprise