CHARLES ADWELL KILLED BY TRAIN - Waverly Journal, Nov. 1918

Charles Adwell, a resident of Waverly was killed by a Burlington freight train some time Sunday night. The body was discovered by the engineer of the south bound passenger train Monday morning and reported to Pat Curwin, section boss of Waverly. He in turn notified W. E. Swifty, undertaker, who took charge of the body and removed it to this city.
Coroner Rose was notified and came to Waverly Monday and empanelled the following jury: V. G. Keplinger, foreman; J. B. Lombard, James Lythell, H. I. DeTurk, Clyde Hembrough, and C. F. Wemple, clerk.
After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict that said Charles Adwell came to his death by being struck by a south bound freight train at a point about two miles north of Waverly. The jury further found that Adwell was a trespasser at the time of his death and that the Chicago Burlington & Quincy railroad was not in any way to blame for the accident.
The jury in arriving at a verdict heard the testimony of J. H. Patterson, a section hand, Pat Curwin, a section boss, and W. E. Swift, undertaker.
Patterson and Curwin testified of the engineer of the south bound passenger train telling them that he had seen a body of a man lying by the side of the south bound track north of Waverly. The men said they were starting to work and proceeded to the spot and found the body to be that of Adwell.
According to the testimony of W. E. Swift, the body was badly mangled and bruised. One foot was cut entirely off and the other badly mangled. The skill was badly fractured, the left arm broken and the collar bone fractured and the neck was also broken.
The deceased was born at Chatham July 6, 1870. When eighteen years of age he moved to Waverly and has resided here ever since. He was night watchman for nine years, and for two years was turnkey at the county jail in Jacksonville. He became a member of the Baptist church during the ministry of Rev. P. H. Aldrich.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Martha Adwell of this city; two brothers and eight sisters, namely: Albert S. of Jefferson Barracks and George of Nilwood; Mrs. Margaret Walker of Rochester; Mrs. Nellie Allen of Chicago; Mrs. Amanda Walsh of Lafayette, Ind.; Mrs. Bessie Ratz of Springfield; Mrs. Roy Bridwell of St. Louis; Mrs. Josephine Ausbury of Livona, N.D.; Mrs. Ruth Bruin of East St. Louis; Mrs. Carrie Seigel of Peoria. He was preceded by his father, three sisters and one brother.
Funeral service were held in the Baptist church Thursday, November 14, at 3:30 o'clock in charge of the pastor, Rev. W. J. Campbell. Interment was in East Cemetery.