ELLINGTON, John (Rev) - Putnam

Rev. John Ellington, 31 years old, a Methodist minister died here Friday night of injuries suffered earlier in the evening when he stepped backward from a moving Vandalia passenger train on which his wife and 4-month old baby were departing for Staunton, Clay County, the former home of Mrs. Ellington. The minister fell and his skull was crushed between the train and the station platform. The train did not stop and Mrs. Ellington did not learn of the accident until she reached Staunton, 20 miles away. She collapsed and was unable to return. The accident occurred at nearly half past 6 o’clock. The Rev. Ellington, his wife and child had gone to the station to meet the 5:43 westbound passenger train but as it was 30 minutes late it did not arrive here until 20 minutes after 6 o’clock.

The young man assisted his wife and child into the train but before he could get off the train was in motion. By the time he reached the car steps the train was running at considerable speed and, being unaccustomed to the method of getting off of a moving train he stepped off the car in such a manner that he was thrown heavily upon the brick platform. Ellington struck the pavement with great force, his head crashing against the brick.  Persons at the platform ran to his assistance and carried him into the station and Dr. WM Hutcheson was called. The injured man was conscious only for a minute. He told those who were with him his name and address during his conscious period and then sank into unconsciousness. Dr. Hutcheson immediately took the man to his office and Dr. Charles Sudranski was called to assist in caring for him. The physicians found that his skull was crushed and he lived only a short time after he arrived at the office. His death

occurred at 7:45 o’clock.

The body was taken to the Hanna Undertaking establishment to await funeral arrangements. John Surb, the father of Mrs. Ellington arrived at Greencastle soon after the death of his son-in-law and took charge of the body. The body will be taken to Staunton where the funeral and burial will occur. The Rev. and Mrs. Ellington had lived here for several years.  They came to Greencastle so that the husband might attend DePauw and he completed his sophomore work last year. This year he did not enter school. Their home was on Chestnut Street. During his school year the young man had charge of the pastorites of the Brownstown and Clermont Churches. Recently he had accepted a call to the pastorage of the Methodist Church in Williamsburg, Wayne County and had packed his household goods preparatory to removing to that town. After the good had been prepared for shipment, it was decided that the wife and child should go to the home of her parents until the good reached their new home. The wife and child had just started on this trip when the fatal accident occurred. Besides his widow and child, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ellington who reside in Martinsville, Ill. The body was taken to Staunton today at noon and the funeral will be held Sunday.