Submitted by: Dan Rich
Feb. 16, 1885 – June 8, 1915
Mishawaka Enterprise 6/11/1915
Ormond E. Swinehart, of Plymouth, Ind., son of Mrs Carrie Swinehart, of 506 Lincoln Highway West of this city, was struck by an east bound south-side car just east of Miller’s sanitarium at 12:30 o’clock Tuesday morning and instantly killed. The body was completely severed above the hips and otherwise horribly mangled. It was necessary to send to South Bend for special apparatus to raise the car and release the body. The motorman saw the man lying across the track about 40 feet ahead of the car. The emergency brakes were applied, but it is alleged they failed to work efficiently.
The deceased was a reporter for the Marshall County circuit court at Plymouth for the past six year. He came to South Bend to purchase electrical fixtures for his new house at Plymouth and to visit his mother and relatives in Mishawaka. According to; the relatives, Mr. Sweinhart had spent the afternoon and evening is South Bend and was coming to Mishawaka on the late car in the vicinity of the sanitarium, by mistake, as his mother had changed her residence since his last visit. It is also thought that he suffered an attack of heart trouble as he had been ailing from this for several weeks.
The theory of robbery, or foul play is not held by the relatives, as a valuable ring was found on his finger, and a gold watch in his pocket. No money was found, but several checks totaling $50 were found filled out.
The deceased is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter, in Plymouth, and his mother, three brothers and two sisters in Mishawaka.
The funeral was held yesterday in Plymouth.
Rumors of foul play in the case are being circulated. It is alleged that the car tracks had been soaped to prevent the car from being stopped quickly. Coroner Swantz has postponed the inquest until nest week.
Editor: He is the son of Daniel Marion Swinehart and Carrie May Perchbacher. He married Cecelia M. Schedte, April 13, 1912 in Marshall County IN.