His Head Torn Off
Negro Drayman Meets Horrible Death
Is Run Over by an Engine and Killed Instantly
Horse Hitched to Dray is Unhurt.

Leroy Hutcherson, a negro drayman in the employ of the Cartersville Grocery Co., met a horrible death last Saturday morning at the crossing of the railroad tracks on Church street by the Seaboard depot.  The negro was hauling a load of goods and an engine backing down the track struck his dray.  The dray was instantly torn form the horse and crushed under the wheel of the locomotive.  The horse escaped unhurt, but Hutcherson, who had no time to jump, was thrown under the wheel of the locomotive.  The wheel ran over his head and literally tore the top of it off.  He was not otherwise crushed or mangled.  The engine was stopped as soon as it struck the dray and the man was pulled from beneath it.  There was no semblance of life left when he was pulled out.

The negro had hauled several loads over the track during the morning and the engine had passed the crossing several times.  It is said the negro was near sighted and this might have caused him to fail to see the engine in time to escape.

Hutcherson was about thirty-two years of age.  He was an industrious, steady, well behaved negro and gave his employers, for whom he had worked a number of years, the best of satisfaction.  He leaves a wife and seven children.  These were dependent on his work and are left in rather hard circumstances.  Mrs. James B. Conyers, one of Cartersville’s most thoughtful and benevolent ladies, has been to see the widow and her children and she gives the following facts regarding them, at the same time making an appeal to those who are charitably disposed in the community.

Mr. Editor:  The young wife and family of Lee Hutcherson, the drayman, who was suddenly killed by the train last week are in a pitiable condition. There are seven children, all under twelve years old.  It is impossible for the mother to go out from home to work, and I felt if any white friend or charitably inclined person wished to lend assistance to this helpless family by giving clothes, provisions or money – let them send to me and I will see that it is dispensed wisely for their good.

Mrs. Jas. B. Conyers.