Body of Man Found on Short Line Track, Robert Styles Believed to Have Been Struck by Train–Auburn Coroner is Investigating, Ithaca NY Daily News 15 Jul 1912
BODY OF MAN FOUND ON SHORT LINE TRACK
Robert Stiles Believed to Have Been Struck by Train—Auburn Coroner is Investigating.
Coroner Forman of Auburn and officers of the Ithaca-Auburn Short Line are today investigating the death of Robert Stiles, aged 50 years, whose body was found along the railroad tracks two miles south of White’s Crossing at 8 o’clock this morning. The man’s skull was crushed but there was no evidence as to whether he had beens truck by a train or been killed in some other manner.
The body was found by John Graney of Auburn, road master of the Short Line. He left Auburn about 7:30 o’clock aboard the small gasoline car which has been seen about this city. Mr. Graney informed the coroner and the body was taken to Auburn. It is believed that the man either was struck by a train on the road or fell in such a manner as to crush his skull.
According to advices received in this city today by General Manager H. A. Clarke of the Short Line, Stiles, who is a farm hand, went to Auburn yesterday from White’s Crossing, which is about four miles south of Auburn. He is said to have returned from the Prison City last night and that he was intoxicated. But how the body got two miles south of White’s Crossing the coroner and Short Line officers have been unable to learn.
Stiles is said to have been employed by Thomas White. He had made frequent trips to Auburn and was well acquainted with the conductors and brakemen on the Short Line trains. The body was identified today by a pledge taken out by Stiles at St. Mary’s Church at Auburn in which he pledged total abstinence.
Short Line employees said the remember seeing Stiles aboard the evening train from Auburn to Ithaca, but they did not know whether he dropped off at Whites. There is some belief that he may have been carried beyond the station and jumped off, thus fracturing his skull.
Another theory was that Stiles had wandered south on the track after leaving the train at White’s Crossing and was struck down by the train which left Ithaca at 7:10 p.m. All the railroad employees are being examined to learn what they know of the case.
The Ithaca NY Daily News, 15 Jul 1912, p. 3, col. 3