FOX, Charley
Source: Iva Lewis Obituary Scrapbook
The Unfortunate and Tragic End of a Life That Was Full of Promise at its Beginning MENTALLY DERANGED And Was Not Responsible for his Act as he Faced a Big Four Train and Was Hurled to Death. There is sorrow in death, no matter under what conditions it may occur, but when Charley Fox deliberately stood before a rapidly moving passenger train on the Big 4 Wednesday and took his life in such a horrible manner the hearts of all who knew him were pained because they knew his mind was deranged and they knew that prior to his misfortune no better young man ever lived in this community. The facts of his tragic death are as follows: After partaking of his dinner with his mother and the family he talked strangely and left the home at 1:20 o’clock going direct to the Big 4 railroad track when he started east, he was met at the road crossing by Mrs. Hulda Keys who says that as he passed her he looked straight ahead and seemingly did not notice her, he kept on walking east on the track until a point a short distance east of where the wagon road which parallels the Big 4 turns south when he met the west bound passenger train Engineer Webb says he noticed that he held his head erect and was watching them. Mr. Webb says that Fox was in the middle of the track and stepped to the end of the ties on the south side of the track as if he was going to go to the embankment while the train passed but instead of doing so he stepped back onto the rail on which he stood with both feet seemingly balancing himself with a cane which he held in his hand. The train was running at not less than thirty miles an hour and both Engineer Webb and his fireman J. J. Backus were alarmed at the fellow’s actions. Webb applied his air and sounded the whistle but the fellow acted as if he wanted to be struck. The fireman turned his head but Webb says Fox seemed to drop his head and the next instant he was struck by the pilot, hurled several feet in the air and lit on the embankment. Webb stopped his engine after running a short distance and notified Conductor W. H. VonWiller when they backed up to where the body Lay and with the assistance of Passengers, Hardy Songer being one of them, placed the body on the train and brought it to the depot sending word to Coroner Parham to whom they turned the body over. The body was placed in the freight room and as it was badly mangled especially the head it was some time before any one recognized it. The entire right side of the skull and part of the face was crushed bones in the left wrist and the left leg was broken. Death was no doubt instantaneous. In the inquest it developed that the deceased had been mentally deranged for some time, this fact though, was known by the family and many of his friends. His mother stated that she had known it for over a year but that he has seemed to be worse for a month past. He has often spoken to her of taking this life the last time being Jan. 20, when he wanted her to get poison for him so that he might end it all, and his father says he has often heard him say that he would take his life if he did not get to feeling better. Charley Fox was a son of Ross and Emma Fox. He was 31 years of age. For several years he had been identified with the poultry business in this city, at Kingman and Covington and he made a success of the undertaking. A few years ago he closed out his business interest here went to St. Louis and thence to Texas where it is said in business ventures, he lost the money he had accumulated as well as his health. He was home last fall and showed all indications of failing health. He went to Decatur, Ill., last August where he remained until December when he came home and his mental derangement was quite noticeable by every one. Since then he has not done anything and has not seemed himself. Charley Fox was a model young man. He had business ability and was as honest as any mortal that ever lived. No one knew him but to like him for he was good, kind and generous, of exceptional high morals, truly an ideal young man and his sad death in such an awful, manner is deplored by everyone more than words can describe, while the sincere sympathy of all is extended to his heart broken parents. In accordance with the facts as above stated, Coroner Parham returned a verdict that death was caused by being struck by a train, an act of his own volition while mentally deranged. The remains were shipped to Kessler, O., Thursday night where they will be laid to rest. – jlr