The Dayton depot

BURLINGTON KILLS MAN NEAR DAYTON
Dead Man is Believed to be Oscar Classon of Danway
Mutilated Body is Found on Tracks
Parts of Body Strewn Along the Tracks for Almost a Mile–Identification is Next to Impossible — Body was Brought to Ottawa Saturday

The mutilated body of a man, supposed to be Oscar Classon, aged 47 years, married, of Danway, was found on the Burlington track shortly after 5:30 a. m. Saturday by Robert Burch, a resident of Dayton. The body was found one mile north of the Dayton depot and was horribly mangled. The Kellman Undertaking Co., of this city, was called and took charge of the body and removed it to this city.

The identification of the body is almost impossible, but circumstances surrounding the case lead the residents of Dayton to believe it to be the body of Oscar Classon. The indications are that he was struck by the south bound freight train, due in this city at 2:30 o’clock that morning.

Mr. Classon was in this city Friday and was seen by a number of people. He purchased a ticket at the local station for Millington and departed on the north bound passenger train, leaving this city at 3:05 p. m. It is reported that Mr. Classon had been drinking and that he was put off the train at Dayton at 3:15 o’clock. He was seen on several occasions late Friday afternoon by residents of Dayton wandering about the village. Classon, it is reported, made several attempts to walk the tracks and between 6 and 7 o’clock was found lying in the middle of the tracks by a man walking to the village. He was aroused and led off the tracks just previous to the passing of the passenger at 7:05 o’clock Friday evening.

It is presumed that Classon wandered back onto the tracks after the 8:30 o’clock north bound freight passed by and that he was struck by the south bound freight shortly after midnight.

Robert Burch, a resident of Dayton, while walking north on the tracks this morning, found a portion of the body a short distance from the depot. The remainder of the body was found one mile north of the depot.

The identification of the body is almost impossible. An Ingersoll watch and a ticket, bearing the date of April 8th, for Millington, were found in the pocket of the deceased.

He is reported to have been a married man and worked on a farm near Danway. He has one brother, T. B. Classon, residing east of Wedron, who has been notified to identify the body, if possible.¹

1. Ottawa Republican Times, April 14,1910, p. 7.