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James Whalen

Posted 2018-09-19 by Judy Wight Branson
The Arizona Republican; Phoenix, Arizona.
September 4, 1896, page 4

DEATH UNDER THE WHEELS.

James Whalen Falls Asleep on the Track at Congress and Killed.

The northbound train over the S.F., P.& P., Wednesday night about 11:30
ran over a man who was lying on the track about one mile east of
Congress Junction. One leg of the man was completely severed and
several bruises were received about the head and body. Death must have
been instantaneous.

The engineer did not see the prostrate form on the track until too
late, and the huge wheels of the iron monster crushed the body.

The man's name was James Whalen and he resided in Congress, where he
formerly ran a barber shop. He must have been drunk and fell asleep on
the track or else did so with suicidal intent. The former theory is the
more accepted, as it was borne out by the finding of an empty whisky
bottle beside the remains.

The train backed into the junction and got Judge Fall and a section
crew, then steamed back to where the body lay. The coroner's jury found
a verdict that deceased was run over by the cars, and attacked no blame
to the railroad company, as it was clearly the man's own fault. He
leaves a wife and baby at Congress.




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

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