Operating while intoxicated has never been a good idea, even back in the day when the vehicle was (or was attached to) a horse, as the unfortunate William Crosby proved just northwest of Chariton on Saturday night, Aug. 31, 1878.
I've indicated the crash site on this 1896 map. At the time of the accident the fair grounds were located roughly where the big Johnson Machine Works plant is now and the poor farm occupied the site of the Hy-Vee frozen foods distribution center.
Here's the report of William's death as published under the headline "Another Victim: William Crosby Meets His Death While in a State of Intoxication."
+++
Early Sunday morning news was brought to town that William Crosby, a well-to-do farmer living about three miles northwest of town, was found lying in the road dead. Mr. Crosby had been in town on Saturday afternoon, and started home about dark in an intoxicated condition, being scarcely able to sit up on the seat.
His road home was out past the fair grounds, crossing the railroad near the west line of the poor farm and from there directly north. At a point about two miles north of where he crossed the railroad is a very steep hill at the bottom of which preparations have been made for putting in a bridge, but which has not yet been finished.
In some manner he was thrown from his wagon at this point, his head striking one of the pilings, producing injuries which, from all indications, caused instant death. His skull was cracked and his neck broken.
His wagon was found further on with the tongue broken, and the team went on past his farm and was found on the road on Sunday morning by one of his neighbors. Coroner Millan was notified and went out, but did not deem it necessary to summon a jury. His body was taken charge of by his family and buried on Monday.
Mr. Crosby, unfortunately for him, possessed an appetite for strong drink, and was in the habit of becoming intoxicated nearly every time he came to town. He was married a few months ago, but he still kept up his old habit, which finally resulted in his violent death, and which had been predicted by many here in town who had often seen him leave town for home driving a team that needed a sober, careful driver.
We don't know how the man or men who sold him the stuff that incapacitated him from taking care of himself will look at this final end, but it seems to us plain that the death of William Crosby has left the stain of blood on someone's hands. Look at it as we will, the light of reason teaches us that there is but little difference between deliberately killing a man with a deadly weapon and killing him by the means with his William Crosby was robbed of his life.
+++
The unfortunate Mr. Crosby probably was buried in Calvary Cemetery, although his grave there is unmarked. He was a brother of James Crosby and brother-in-law of Ellen Crosby, both of whose names appear nearby on the 1896 map and both of whom also are buried at Calvary.
The name of the widow, Mary Crosby, also is shown on the map, probably at the site of the farm home where William was headed when he died.
Mary (1840-1898), born Mary Cooney, was a native of Ireland, as were her husband and James and Ellen. Her first husband, Edmond Halpin, had died, leaving her a widow with a large family. She had married William on June 19, 1878, in Chariton, little more than two months before his death.
Mary, too, is buried in Calvary Cemetery, her grave marked by a substantial stone.
 |
| Jacob Johnston/Find a Grave |
No comments:
Post a Comment