A FAST MAIL VICTIM
Alva Wilson, Aged Resident of
Was in the Act of Crossing the Track at
Body is Thrown 150 Feet and Every Bone
Broken—Skull Severed From Head
The Northwestern fast mail, No. 15,
claimed another victim this morning, when, at about 10:30 o’clock, at
State Center, the second station west of this city, it struck and instantly
killed Alva Wilson, one of the old residents and early settlers of that place.
The accident occurred on what is known
as the opera house crossing. Mr. Wilson, who is a man about 80 years of age,
had been up town, and at the time of the accident was on his way home. It is thought
that he supposed the fast mail had gone, as it was past due, and did not take
the necessary precaution of looking toward the east to see if the train was
approaching. Consequently he stepped just over the outside rail when the
engine, No. 199, one of the fast “ocean liners,” struck him. He was
thrown 150 feet and when picked up it was found that every bone in his body,
practically, had been broken. His skull was also crushed and was completely
severed from the head.
The remains of the unfortunate old man
were picked up and carried to a neighboring building, and a telegraph message
was immediately sent to Coroner Lierle, in this city.
As the coroner was out of the city on business, and did not return until about
noon, he decided to do nothing regarding an inquest until evening, and will go
to
Mr. Wilson was a man highly esteemed in
At the present time it is not definitely
known when the funeral will occur, but it will probably be held Monday from the
family home.
---Evening
Times-Republican,
Likely to be Censured
Coroner’s Inquest Over
The inquest over the remains of Alvin
Wilson, the aged gentleman killed at State Center Saturday morning by the
C.& N.W. fast mail train, was set for today instead of Saturday evening, a
was expected. Coroner Lierle,
accompanied by a T.-R. reporter, -went to
Mrs. J.F. Cowan and little daughter
Mabel, the latter 8 years of age, seemed to be the nearest witnesses to the
accident. They were about 100 feet distant, and Mrs. Cowan, seeing the
man’s danger, motioned and called to him to be careful. She says that Mr.
Wilson seemed confused, hesitated a moment before crossing the track, evidently
with the idea that he had time to cross. She thinks he did not realize how
close the train was to him, even though he did see it.
Messrs. Chris Hansen, E.G. Hoppes, C.H. Shere were sworn in
by Coroner Lierle as jurymen, and as witnesses there
were subpoenaed S.M. Brimhall, J. Smith, M. Jerome
Barnes, Mr. And Mrs. Cowan and daughter, Mayor Frank Walker and Agent William
Tate, of the company. The principal thing to prove, says the coroner, is how
fast the train was running through the town. There is no doubt but that Mr.
Wilson came to his death by his own fault, as he could not have helped seeing
the train. On the other hand there is a town ordinance at
Engineer Thomas Keefe had charge of the
engine that struck the unfortunate man.
The deceased was an older resident of
the county than supposed Saturday. He had lived for forty-three years, until
within the last two or three years, on his 280-acre farm two miles west of LaMoille. His family is composed of a wife and seven
children. Two of his daughters, Misses Jane and Marietta Wilson, lived with
their father and a third, Mrs. George Parsons, lives west of
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at
1 o’clock at the Congregational church, LaMoille,
Rev. __ ___ officiating. The interment was at the
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THE
Jury Reports That Alvin Wilson Was Killed by a
Northwester Train, Running at an Unlawful Speed.
The inquest over the remains of the late
Alvin Wilson, who was killed by the Northwestern fast mail at
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