Killed By The Cars
James Bartlett, a farmer living three miles west of Peabody, was run over by the east bound train yesterday and instantly killed. The accident happened on a crossing within sight of Mr. Bartlett’s home. Mar. Bartlett is seventy-six years old and slightly deaf. Engineer Snyder of Topeka was pulling the train yesterday that leaves here for the east at 12:28 p.m. When east of Walton and about three miles west of Peabody, he saw a buggy approaching the crossing, which is on a high grade. He says that he whistled but that the man in the buggy paid no attention, evidently not hearing the noise. When he saw that a collision was unavoidable, he reversed his engine and applied the air brakes. It was too late, however, and the engine crashed into the rig, throwing it and its occupant several rods. The buggy was completely demolished, the horse was killed outright and the man, James Bartlett, was picked up dead.
The train was stopped and backed up to the scene of the accident. It was found that the right arm of the injured man was broken in two places, the right leg was broken and the concussion on his head was alone probably sufficient to cause instant death. He was carried to his home, which was within sight of the crossing upon which he met his death. The train proceeded on its way after having been delayed nearly a half hour. Coroner James McKee was summoned from Newton and reached the home of the dead man yesterday afternoon. He called a jury together immediately and held an inquest. The jury consisted of six men, neighbors of the deceased. The evidence was taken and was in substance that has been given in this article. The verdict was to the effect that Mr. Bartlett had come to his death by being run over by the Santa Fe train and that the accident was due to the negligence of the employes of the railway company. Dr. McKee says that the evidence did not seem to him to warrant such a verdict but the jury thought differently.
James Bartlett was seventy-six years old and has been a resident of Harvey county for many years. He leaves an aged wife and five grown children. Three sons lived with him and one daughter. One other daughter is married. He had been in the habit of taking milk to town in a wagon daily and crossing the same point of the railroad upon which he met his death. yesterday he was on his way home from the home of a neighbor, to whose place he had gone to borrow a spade. The funeral was held from the family home near Peabody this afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Newton Daily Republican. Tuesday, November 12, 1895. Page 1.
Mr. Bartlett was an old resident, well known in this city and the eastern half of the county. He leaves a family of five or six children, all grown. He was a pillar in the U.P. Church, and was universally respected. The funeral took place at 2 p.m. today, a minister from Lawrence officiating. Coroner McKee was notified; the jury returned a verdict that death resulted from the carelessness of the railroad employes. A steel gang was relaying track right at this place at the time of the accident, and those men say the whistle was blown and all other usual things done to proclaim the approach of a train. But these men, it appears, were not called before the coroner. The Newton Kansan. Thursday, November 14, 1895. Page 1. (c) Transcribed by Darren McMannis for HCGS. All rights reserved.
