MT. V. BOY DIES UNDER WHEELS OF FREIGHT TRAIN

Jerry Faulkner, 13, Victim of Tragic Accident Early Last Night. The entire community was saddened early last evening by the death of a Mt. Vernon high school freshman beneath the wheels of a Southern Railway freight train. Victim of the tragic accident was Jerry Evans Faulkner, 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Faulkner of 417 north Seventh street. The tragedy occurred about 5:55 p. m. on the Southern tracks about midway between Park Avenue and North street. The wheels of a freight car passed over the boy's body, severing it at the waist. Death came instantly. Coroner Ray Hefley said there were no witnesses to the accident and that it was not known how it happened. He said an inquest will probably be held Friday. The engineer of the train, southbound through freight No. 57, was unaware of the tragedy. H. T. Belle of Princeton, Ind., the conductor, was riding in the caboose and saw the body as the train passed. He immediately stopped the train. The train was not scheduled to stop in Mt. Vernon but had slowed down to pass through the city.

Jerry, who graduated last June from Casey junior high school, entered Mt. Vernon high school this month as a freshman. He would have been 14 years of age on October 6.

Jerry was born October 6, 1943 in Mt. Vernon, the son of Frank E. and Dorothy (Johnson) Faulkner. He, with his family, was a member of the Second Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2:00 p. m. at the Second Baptist Church, with the Rev, Tellis Young and the Rev. Carl Whittington officiating and burial will be in Bethel Memorial cemetery. Friends may call at Myers Chapel at any time. At noon Wednesday the body will be taken to the church, to lie in state until the funeral hour.

Besides his parents, he is survived by one sister, Elaine Kay, at home; his grandmother, Mrs. Grace Whitson of Mt. Vernon; and his great grandmother, Mrs. Susan Esmon of Mt. Vernon.

Source: The Mt Vernon Register News
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 1957
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman