Orville Scott Killed By Train

SCOTT

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/14/2015 at 16:59:52

Jackson Sentinel, Nov. 13, 1917

ORVILLE SCOTT, FORMER MAQUOKETAN, KILLED BY TRAIN

Shortly after 10 o'clock last Thursday morning, Orville Scott, a former Maquoketa resident and well known to many here, was instantly killed by being struck by a passenger train on a crossing in Morrison, Illinois. The tragedy is wrapped in mystery in that Scott was apparently aware of the approach of the train and that he is said to have almost stepped deliberately in front of the same. At the coroner's inquest the testimony of several witnesses was taken, the most important being the evidence of Miss Maude McLaughlin, an employee of the Libby, McNeil & Libby laboratory and when called to the stand she stated that she had seen Mr. Scott on the crossing west of the plant, and that for some unexplainable reason, she watched him, saw him start toward the north track when the train was a very short distance from him and saw him struck. He had his coat around his head at the time the train struck him and had released his hold on his cane an instant before. She testified the automatic signal at the crossing was working. It is thought perhaps that Scott misjudged the distance and thought that he had ample time to get across the track and that he had thrown his coat over his head to shield his face from the wind which was blowing.

Orville Scott grave
 

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