OLD CITIZEN WAS KILLED BY TRAIN
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J. T. Skidmore Struck by No. 31 at Concord Yesterday.
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Was From Gaston County and Had Served Four Years in Confederate Army.
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Special to the Observer.

Concord, April 27--A distressing accident occurred this morning about six o'clock, near the Gibson Mill, when southbound passenger train No. 31 on the Southern Railway, struck and instantly killtd [sic] J. T. Skidmore, a Confederate veteran.

Mr. Skidmore, with others, was on his way to work at the Gibson Mill, where he is a gate keeper. When they came to the railway crossing on McGill street, northbound train No. 44 was passing, and as soon as the last car had passed him he started to cross without noticing the approaching train on the southbound track, until the engine was almost upon him and it was too late for him to get out of the way of the fast moving train. His body was hurled about 75 feet by the impact, and badly bruised and broken. Life was extinct when some of his friends and neighbors, who had witnessed the tragedy, reached the place where he lay. The coroner was summoned, and after investigation he decided it would be needless to summon a coroner's jury.

The deceased was about 73 years of age, and served four years in the Confederate Army, having enlisted in the company from Gaston County, where he was reared, and where he spent the greatest part of his life. For the past seven years he has made his home in this city, and resided on Allison street. He had been twice married, the first wife before marriage being Miss Mary Ann Cherry, of Gaston County, by whom was born to him nine children, eight of whom survive their father. The second wife was Miss Lula Culberson, of Gaston County, and she with eight children from this marriage also survive.

The funeral services will be conducted from McGill Street Baptist Church at three o'clock Sunday afternoon, by the pastor, Rev. S. W. Bennett, and the body will be shipped to Gaston County for interment.

Messrs. D. J. Skidmore, of Norwood, P. O. Skidmore, of Albermarle, [sic] C. D. Skidmore of Kannapolis, and Miss Rose Skidmore and Mrs. Beulah White of Charlotte, arrived in Concord this morning, having been called home on account of the death of their father.

Charlotte Observer
April 28, 1917
Page 8