Found Dead on the Tracks

Found Dead on the Tracks

A body if found on the tracks at Air Line Junction in Toledo, Ohio belonging to Mr. M. J. Grogan, one of the most popular trainmen on the Lake Shore.

This is a real mystery and the details are plentiful. Was Mr. Grogan murdered? Listen in to see what we uncover!

Both Missing; Murder Feared

Our second story tonight takes place in West Toledo in 1895 with a missing couple and strange findings.

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DISCLAIMER: This episode is subject to graphic content due to the nature of the true crime stories as told by newspaper ar

DISCLAIMER: This episode is subject to graphic content due to the nature of the true crime stories as told by newspaper articles in this era and reiterated by Kelley Amstutz, Crime Travel host. View discretion is advised for younger listeners.

Transcript

0:19

Hi there and welcome to another episode of crime travel with Kelley Amstutz, the genealogy investigator. I'm super excited for you guys to join me tonight. I have a great story about one of the oldest doctors doctor's, his body was actually found on the track. So I'm calling this one found on the tracks that and this story takes us back to 1899. So I'm just gonna go ahead and jump right in. This is episode 14 for us. So congratulations. I'm super excited that we've done 14 episodes so far in this one sure to not disappoint. As usual. If we have younger audience members listening, just make sure parents that you are doing a quick sweep before you let them listen. I know that the articles are a lot more uncensored than they are in today's day and age. So I just don't want anything to be sensitive. So our first story that I found on this case comes out of Fulton County X, those Seiter sorry if I butchered that. For some reason, I just cannot talk when I get on the podcast. Anyways, it's from the 20th of April 1899. It appeared in page five, and the headlines read killed at airline junction. So let's go ahead and just jump right in a body of m j Grogan conductor on the local was found dead at the airline junction early Tuesday morning. The following regarding the death of Mr. Grogan we clipped from the Toledo Blade. So the article goes on conductor Michael J. Grogan, one of the most popular train men on the lake shore was killed at airline junction last night. Just how the death occurred will probably never be known. Something he was run down by a train while others think. In indications point to murder. Mr. Grogan was called to take out the train number 81 at 1230 and had evidently started up the tracks his work when he was killed. Engineer outta cat found the body and reported the news tonight YardMaster Leonard, the body was found lying near the swan Creek Bridge east of the junction. Both legs were cut off and he was otherwise badly mangled. A deep gash in his head showed that US had almost been in some taneous this gash on the head lead some to think that he was assaulted and then murdered with a couple coupling pin and then the body put on the tracks to hide the evidence of the crime. So there's a lot of speculation going on here which is so interesting back in 1899. Another indication that points to murder is the fact that only 25 cents was found on his person, as he usually carries from $15 to $20 with him. This is looked on with suspicion. His watch Sheen had also been torn from his watch and the timepiece lay on the ground near the body. It is not stopped. It had not stopped running when it was filed. Engineer at a cat who found the body said that just before he got to the spot where it lay he saw a rough looking man coming out from behind the Shansi engineer drew a revolver whereupon the man slicked away. After the incident the body was brought on a train from junction to the Union Depot and I ordered the coroner taken charge of by an undertaker. Mr. Grogan was 48 years of age and had been in the employee of Lakeshore railroad since 1869. And one of the woods and was one of the most popular men on the road. He was a nephew of Mrs. William threaten living west of Toledo, Ohio. This is Drennen accompanied by her son James left for Toledo Tuesday afternoon to attend this funeral service. So we are already uncovering such great details. There's a lot of speculation going on by the people that are on the railroad as well as the investigators that are looking into this case, especially with seeing the man by the Shanthi. I mean, that's kind of telling right there. So I found another article, it was in the Estherville daily news on the 27th of April 1899 was just Thursday, and it was on page 12. So it was kind of farther back into the newspaper. But it says maybe a murder mystery. Little Heil MJ Grogan, one of the oldest conductors on the lake. Sure was found dead on the tracks shortly before there his trade was to leave. It was Suppose then that he had been run down by a train, but peculiar gashes on the head and the loss of a considerable sum of money, let let the detect us to believe that he was murdered. Witnesses saw a tramp near the place, and the case is being worked upon as a murder mystery. So both stories are kind of interesting. I found just a couple more, they were pretty much the same. As we said, in the very beginning, this might be one of those crimes that just never really solved. And I think that they just didn't solve it. I looked and looked the look and was unable to find anything to say what exactly happened. So I'm going to take a quick break. And I do have another story for us tonight. I'm just because we didn't really get anywhere with this story. But it is pretty interesting. It is in at the airline junction in the south end of Toledo, Ohio. So some of you might be familiar with that area. I know I grew up around that area. So for me, I was kind of picturing exactly where this would have happened at you know, given it wasn't at 99. But the circumstances are kind of sketchy. So we'll take a quick break and I'll be right back with you guys. Hey, there fellow family history researcher, are you a hobby genealogist that's been thinking about starting your own professional genealogy business? Do you have such a passion for research in history that you think that living the life of a history detective would be amazing? Do you want freedom and life with financial rewards all while doing something that you love, I got it. This was my life. I felt like I was meant for something so much more. I started my family tree journey as a hobby genealogist way back in about 2001. And the book has never left me. It wasn't until I sat down. It really had a heart to heart with myself. I threw some spaghetti at the wall, not literally trying to think about where my passion lies. That's when I decided to level up my life. And I've never looked back. I started learning about my craft, I started digging into my own family history and applying new skills to test how well they work. I quit my corporate job and started declaring myself as a professional genealogist, I think My poor husband thought I had lost my mind. But I knew something had to change. I needed to be here for my kids, I needed to see my husband every day, not just on the weekends, we have crazy schedules. And I needed to do something that I was truly passionate about something that was financially rewarding, something that is ever changing, I will engage me with each twist in terms. I literally jump all in. Then as I started working, the teacher me started to poke around and I created a certificate course to share with others who are just like me wandering to take this idea of genealogy and go all in to be a professional genealogist and run a successful business. My course is everything from A to Z and an affordable package to take you from hobby genealogists to professional genealogists. I hunt dead people for a living. And starting a genealogy business is the cheapest business that you can start because you can run your business right out of your own home office. How great is that? If you're interested, please visit my website, the genealogy investigator.com and follow the link to my courses. I have great specials going on too. And if you're interested, just give me an email metaphysic how@gmail.com All the details are on my website. Be sure to check it out. All right, and we are back. So we wrapped up our first case this evening. And although we didn't get to the bottom of the case, we did learn about the one of the oldest train conductors and his terrible murder or suspected murder right. So my next story is titled both missing murder feel feared. And it's out of the times leader from the fourth of September 1895 I have a Wednesday and this actually made front page. This was on page one. And the headline reads both missing murder feared. So Toledo, Ohio, September 3, we have Mr. Fred J. Smith of West salido. And his wife, Minnie. They're missing from their home in Toledo, Ohio. And the police don't know what's going on. But they think that Mrs. Smith has been murdered. Her husband is the suspect, obviously, because at that time, they're both missing. And there's some speculation going on as to why they even believe that Mrs. Smith has been murdered. Examination of the house that they occupied showed numerous marks made evidently by an X and some appearance blood marks were awesome. Wow. So that is our evidence right there. There is nothing more on the story. But it's fascinating. I'm going to do a little bit more digging. So like I always say, please be sure to check out the blog because you never know what I'm going to uncover. So that's it for us for tonight. Like I said, I try to keep these pretty short and sweet. But I love getting these old news articles back into circulation just because they are fascinating and for all of us to kind of see the censorship and to know that these types of things were prevalent during this time. So that's all for tonight. Thank you so much for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out and until next time.