Mrs. Emma Deets, 71, wife of James Deets of Emerson, was instantly killed at 11:40 o'clock Wednesday forenoon when she stepped in front of a C & N W yard engine as it approached the baggage room of the passenger station in Sterling. The body was immediately picked up and removed in a Trouth car to their mortuary. Coroner C. M. Frye was immediately notified and he will conduct the inquest. The identity of the woman was found in papers in her dress.

A string of freight cars was being backed down the track by the yard engine. John Wallace was the engineer and William Allen, fireman, Fred Elsasser and Joe Fink were the switchmen. J.E. Roark, yardmaster, also was nearby. It is stated by one of the eyewitnesses the woman was seen to walk out from the baggage room and briskly step on the track just as the engine was at that point. The body was badly mutilated under the wheels. The engine men were horrified. The locomotive bell was ringing and the whistle had sounded as the cut of cars was being moved.

Mrs. Deets came to Sterling about last Thanksgiving and had lodgings at Mrs. Hill's 612 Locust street, but one week ago had moved to Mrs. Emma Baker's, 309 Fifth avenue.

Mrs. Deets as Miss Emma Meyers of Omaha, Neb., was married to Mr. Deets, in California four years ago. Last November Mr. Deets went to Florida for the winter. It was at that time the couple began living apart. Mrs. Deets has one sister living in California and some brothers and sisters living in Omaha, Neb.

It was explained by Mrs. Baker that Mrs. Deets had come to her house a stranger and took lodgings about one week ago. She told her landlady she had trouble and wished to relate it, but Mrs. Baker said she told her it was often best not to tell troubles to strangers and she would spare her that pain. "Mrs. Deets was such a quiet, peaceable little woman," siad Mrs. Baker. "She was so neat, quiet and refined and often helped me about the house just to be occupied. This morning she enjoyed a hearty breakfast and said she had two letters to write which she wanted to get to the postoffice so they would get off on the first mail. Instead however, she came down dressed for the street, saying she would let the letters wait. She passed a pleasant remark and said "Goodbye".

Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Contributed by: Mike Hosler
Date unknown