The Way it Was

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

100 years ago

Broken rail causes wreck

WICHITA, Kan., -- Fifteen persons were severely shaken and bruised in a wreck on the Missouri Pacific yesterday when an eastbound passenger train was wrecked by a broken rail. The engine, baggage car and smoker passed over the broken rail in safety, but the rear coach was ditched. More then 100 yards of track were torn up.

The passengers in the ditched car were transferred to the smoker and brought to this city.

50 years ago

Three-year-old critically injured by two older boys

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., -- A 3-year-old boy was in a critical condition in a Springfield hospital today after he was beaten and stomped by two older boys.

The victim, Freeman Fletcher, son of Mrs. Doris Fletcher, a widow, suffered internal and hip injuries and several bruises.

Names of the other boys, one 6 and the other 7, were not released by county juvenile home authorities. Gary Adamson, assistant juvenile officer, said they are being held in the detention home for probable psychiatric examination.

Freeman and a 5-year-old playmate were playing in yard near the Fletcher home Monday afternoon, when the 5-year-old allegedly called the 6 and 7-year-old youngsters a nasty name.

The older boys shoved the 5-year-old down, but he got up and ran away.

The 7-year-old boy told the juvenile officers he and the 6-year-old inflicted a beating on Freeman, kneeling on him and stepping on him, but didn't realize they were injuring him seriously.

The older boys and their parents were called into conference with juvenile officers yesterday after Freeman was taken to the hospital.