OBIT: John B. CUNNINGHAM, Jr., 1890, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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John B. Cunningham, Aged 29 Years, Killed on the Branch Railroad Near 
Stiffler's Station Some Time During Wednesday Night - His Body Found 
Christmas Morning, About 5 O'clock.

  That was a terrible and ghastly find which Conductor Shellar's crew 
made on the Branch railroad about 5 o'clock on Christmas morning.  It 
was the lifeless and mangled body of a human being, which was 
discovered lying between the rails.  That it had lain there for some 
time was evidenced in the fact that the body was stiff and cold, even 
some of the ballast stones being frozen fast to the body.  The corpse 
was transferred to Conductor Confer's train and brought to the 
passenger station in this city and from there taken to Arthur's 
undertaking rooms where it was prepared for burial.  The body was found 
about 300 yards north of Stiffler's station.
  The deceased was identified as John B. Cunningham, jr., son of J. B. 
Cunningham, residing at West Chestnut avenue and Twenty-fourth street.  
He was aged 28 years, 11 months and 16 days, and was a cripple, having 
lost a leg some years ago on the railroad.  On being notified of the 
finding of the dead body, Coroner Poet went to the undertaking rooms to 
which the body had been taken and there empanneled [sic] a jury.  After 
a brief adjournment, the inquest reassembled and the testimony of 
Conductor Shellar was taken.  He was the only witness examined and a 
verdict of accidental death was rendered.
  The body was badly mangled.  The one perfect leg had been crushed off 
just below the knee and one of the unfortunate man's shoulders had also 
been broken.  There was also a hole torn in his breast.  From what can 
be learned Cunningham got on board the branch train which leaves the 
city at 5 o'clock in the evening.  This was on Wednesday evening.  He 
had a ticket which was worthless and was put off the train at 
Cresswell.  By what train he was struck is not known, but it must have 
been during the forepart of the night, as the body was frozen stiff 
when found.
  The funeral will take place this afternoon at 2 o'clock and the 
services will be held at the residence of the parents.  The interment 
will follow in Fairview cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, December 27, 1890