Grace E. Hanchett & Baby Died 1920

HANCHETT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/30/2018 at 12:27:38

Sioux City Journal
14 April 1920

Death Blame On Railroad
Coroner’s Jury Finds Omaha Line Was Careless
No Watchman on Crossing
String of Boxcars, Which Caused Death of Mrs. Hanchett and Baby, Wee Unguarded, Switchmen Admit at Inquest

Blame for the death of Mrs. Grace E. Hanchett and her infant daughter, who were killed when an automobile in which they were riding was struck by a string of box cars on the Court Street crossing April 2 was fixed on the carelessness of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha railroad by the coroner’s jury, which held an inquest yesterday morning.

The jury further found that thee was no flagman at the crossing at the time of the of the accident or lights or warning signal of any kind. The jury found that the box cars were detached without a switchman.

George Hanchett, husband and father of the deceased testified that W. L. Watkins, his brother-in-law, who was driving the car at the time, stopped the car about thirty feet from where the accident occurred, and on hearing nothing he started on. The car was traveling about a mile and a half an hour when the accident occurred, Mr. Hanchett stated.

“Other box cars projecting out in Court Street made it impossible for any one to see whether a train was coming until he was directly on the tracks,” declared Mr. Hanchett.

Mr. Hanchett stated the automobile in which they were driving at the time of the accident was knocked about forty feet when hit by the string of cars.

N.E. Trueblood, S. L. Davis and L. Schutt, switchman, testified that, so far as they knew no one was riding the string of detached box cars at the time of the accident. They also stated that none of them witnessed the accident.

C.L. Mummert, engineer and Walter M. Garrett, fireman also testified.