OBIT: J. MATOAN, 1890, Tyrone, Blair County, PA

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TYRONE TOPICS.

  Sometime between 5 and 6 o'clock Saturday a man was discovered lying 
between the north and southbound tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad, a 
short distance east of this station, with the left side of his face and 
head smashed beyond recognition.  He was taken up and brought to the 
surgeon's room and Coroner Michael Poet was notified, who arrived on 
day express at 12.15 and immediately summoned the following jury of 
inquest: D. T. Caldwell, foreman; M. J. Downs, George Hull, Thomas J. 
Scott, John Oakwood and Joseph C. Hull, who being duly sworn, examined 
the remains and what witnesses could be found.  His clothes were 
examined and, beside some small trinkets and thirty cents cash, a small 
time-book and a letter were found which disclosed the fact that the 
victim was a Finlander and as No. 260, worked with H. E. and J. C. 
Conner at Burnside, Pa., or had dealings with them, and lately, as No. 
176, at Bellefonte, Pa., and from the letter his name is supposed to be 
J. Matoan.  Other evidence is that he with three companions was in town 
on Friday evening, having come from Altoona where he had been in the 
lock-up, and secured lodgings at the City hotel, paying the same in 
advance, two of the party only occupied the room, and left at an early 
hour the following morning.  No trace of their whereabouts could be 
found.  With the slight evidence obtainable the jury came to the 
conclusion that he came to his death by being struck by a westbound 
train on the Pennsylvania railroad while walking on the track and that 
no blame attaches to anyone.  The party had been indulging pretty 
freely in beer.  The remains were given in charge of J. H. Burley & 
Bro., undertakers, who had them prepared for burial in the Tyrone 
cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Monday, November 24, 1890