Richard Lester Johnson
Jan. 9, 1889-Sept. 8, 1935
Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 9, 1935, page 1, col. 6, cont. page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
RICHARD L. JOHNSON
KILLED BY BIG FOUR
TRAIN AT FRONT ST.
Victim a Relief Client; Leaves
Widow and Six Children;
Funeral Tuesday
The mangled body of Richard Lester Johnson, 46, of 1310 North Fifth street, was found early Sunday morning lying near the Big Four tracks on Front street, just north of the crossing. It had been dragged about 280 feet, apparently by a train that passed through Niles, south bound, about 2 o'clock in the morning. The head was toward the north, which led investigators to believe the body had been struck by the south-bound train.
The victim was accidentally killed while walking or lying on the Big Four tracks, was the verdict of the coroner's jury called by Justice Charles E. Warner, acting coroner. The railroad and train crew were exonerated of all blame in the accident.
Found Early Sunday
Mr. Johnson's body was found on the tracks Sunday morning about 6 o'clock by John Beckner, 810 Howard street, and Frank Patterson, R. @, Niles. It was discovered just north of the crossing on Front street as the two stopped at the tracks as they were going west on Wayne street. The headlights of the car revealed the body. The two got out of the car, examined the body and immediately notified Police Officer Solloway. The latter called the Rutherford ambulance and the body was taken to the funeral home. Johnson was a relief client.
Testifying at the inquest were Mr. Beckner, Mr. Patterson, C.R. Kelley, Elkhart, engineer on the Big Four freight train that passed through Niles at 12:45 Sunday morning, Clyde Herrick, Elkhart engineer; L.C. Miller Elkhart, fireman; W.L. Fleshwood,
(Continued on Page Two) Indianapolis, brakeman; B.E. Smith Anderson, Ind., flagman; Curtis Johnson, brother of the dead man, ad Police Officer Solloway.
Crew Testifies
Members of the train crew called at the inquest testified that any object on the track would have been plainly visible, that th train could not possibly have run down the victim. The gave as their opinion that the man might have been sitting in the grass at the side of the track, that he may have been asleep and when the whistle blew, he awakened, staggered into the side of the train and was thrown under the wheels.
All opinions were conjectures and were not given as proofs of the cause of death. All agreed, however, that one or more of the trainmen would have seen Mr. Johnson had he been on the track ahead of the train.
Curtis Johnson, brother of the dead man, admitted the Mr. Johnson was a drinking man but said that he talked with a friend who had seen his brother at 12:10 Sunday morning and at that time there was no indication of his having been intoxicated. He said that his brother always followed the path on which he had started when on his way home.
The watch belonging to the dead man had stopped at 11:15 Central Standard time.
Lived Here 7 Years
Mr. Johnson was 46 years old, and had lived in Niles seven years. He . .[illegible] . . He was born in Flat Rock, Ill., and was married in Soals, Ind., to Maude Truelove.
His widow and six children survive: Mrs. Elsie Smith, Crown Point, Ind., Clarence, Raymond, Calelah, Delbert and Chrisina, all at home. He leaves two brothers, Curtis and Emory, both of Niles, and two sisters, Mrs. Claude Hert, Vincennes, Ind., and Mrs. Della Walls, Burns City, Ind.
The body is at the Rutherford funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home.
Note: DOB from Michigan Death record