Shelby  County  Indiana
Obituaries

Sox

A  Shelby  County  Newspaper
Saturday, July 26, 1919
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JOHN  SOX  IS  KILLED  IN
INDIANAPOLIS  BY  TRAIN
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Local Man Escapes From Hospital --
Body Found Later in Railroad Yards.
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WIFE  AND  SMALL  SON  LEFT
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Had Been at Indianapolis Hospital for
the Last Three Weeks -- Wife Received
Word Last Evening That He Was Lost.
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         Mrs. Maud Sox,  who resides at 202 west South street, in this city, received a telephone message last night at 11 o'clock from the officials of the Central Hospital for the Insane at Indianapolis, saying that her husband,  John Sox,  36, an inmate of the hospital, had been run over by a train and killed.  Late last evening she received a message saying that he was lost and that every effort was being made to find him.
          While patients of the hospital were taking exercise in the grounds yesterday afternoon, Sox disappeared.  Hospital authorities immediately notified the police, who were searching for Sox, when word came that his body had been found in the railroad yards.
          The body was found in the Big Four railway years west of Belmont avenue, Indianapolis.  A freight car loaded with stone had struck his neck and nearly severed his head from the body.
          Indianapolis police say they found evidence which were conclusive in the minds that Sox had planned his death.  The body was found with the arms folded underneath, indicating that Sox lay down on the track while the crews were switching the freight cars.
          Mrs. Sox, the wife, said today that her husband had been in failing health for the last three years, suffering from a catarrh of the stomach and bowels.  She said that he was not insane, and suffered from physical trouble and not mental.  He was taken to the Indianapolis hospital three weeks ago yesterday, she said, on the advice of the attending physician.  On Jan. 23, 1919, he was taken to the Robert Long hospital, where he stayed six weeks, taking treatment.  No change for the better resulted in his condition and he was again taken to Indianapolis to the hospital where he had been for the last three weeks.
          His wife is prostrate over the tragic death and her grief is undescribable[sic].  One child survives with her, whose name is  Paul, six years old.  Another child,  Sophia Elmira,  died last September at the age of three months.
          The family came here from Moral township, where he had been engaged as a farmer, on Feb. 12, of this year  Mr. and Mrs. Sox were married on Sept. 21, 1913, and lived in Moral township before coming to this city.  She is the daughter of  Mr. and Mrs. John K. Stewart, of Shelby county.
          John Sox  was born in Sept 13, 1883, in this city, the son of  Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sox.  His parents died when he was a small boy.  Until he was seventeen years of age he lived east of this city on a farm.  Mr. and Mrs. Tom Perry,  near this city, took him into their home and were the same as father and mother to him.  He always considered them as his parents.  A sister, Mrs. Stacy Zell, of 618 south Tompkins street and three brothers survive.  The brothers are  Roy Sox,  of west Mechanic street;  George Sox,  of New Castle;  Samuel Goble, of Marion township, who was adopted by  Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Goble.  Two uncles,  Robert and  Ben Kaster,  residing on the Morristown pike, are left.  He had hosts of friends in this city and county who regret to hear of his death.  The family has the sympathy of the entire community.  Funeral arrangements will be made later.
          Dr. Paul F. Robinson,  coroner of Marion county, at Indianapolis, began an investigation today on the death of Sox.  Further word from Indianapolis says the body was found by  l. H. Jones, 3200 Meridian street, Indianapolis, a switchman, who, with other members of a train crew, was switching cars at that point.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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