Sullivan Official Killed on Duty

Leroy Carpenter, serving his second term as highway superintendent of the town of Sullivan, was killed in the line of duty Monday afternoon when the truck he was operating was struck by the east-bound fast mail passenger train No. 38, at the car crossing on the New York canal, a little over a mile west of Chittenango. The truck Mr. Carpenter was operating was demolished and hurled many feet from the scene of the crash and the body was thrown twenty-five feet from the wrecked truck. Members of the town highway crew, under his supervision saw the approaching train and shouted vain warnings. The had to stand helplessly by and see their leader meet his death.

The work at the crossing had been undertaken by Mr. Carpenter as a safety measure, to remove the earth banks from the approaches to the crossing and make possible for those using the road to have a better opportunity to see approaching trains. Two fatal accidents occurred at the crossing recently. On July 28, Mr. Carpenter’s son Harold, driving a town truck, was struck and injured and later Henry King’s tractor was demolished when he drove onto the track in front of a train. A short time ago Mr. Carpenter had obtained permission from railroad officials to remove the obstructing banks.

During the work he repeatedly warned his men to use extra care, had erected guard rails as an added safety measure and constantly patrolled the work to protect his men and those using the road. Just before the fatal accident he took special precautions to keep from danger children living on near-by farms and who were watching the work.

Leroy Carpenter was born in northern Sullivan October 16, 1886. His parents were William and Carolyn Carpenter.

He married Miss Amelia Gibbs. She survives him, as do also five sons, Carl, whose marriage to Muriel Tanner of Canastota took place Saturday night, and who was on his wedding trip when the accident occurred, and Donald, Harold, Robert and Arthur, all of Chittenango. There are also two sister, Mrs. John Centner and Mrs. Howard Bender, both of Chittenango Station, and four brothers, William and Fred of Chittenango Station and Chester of Chittenango and Clifford of Canastota. His mother, Mrs. Carrie Carpenter, also survives.

Mr. Carpenter was one of the best-known and highly esteemed men of the town. He had twice been elected town superintendent of highways, the second time by a record majority. His work was outstanding and won him an increasing number of friends and supporters. Before being elected to town office he spent several years in various branches of work in the county highway department, holding a responsible supervisory position there at the time he became a candidate for town office. He was a member of the Grange and of the Chittenango Fire Company, of which he had served both as company president and as fire chief.

The funeral took place Wednesday afternoon. There was a private family prayer service at the home at 1:30, followed by a public funeral at the Methodist Church, with Rev. Harold Steer officiating. Friends and business associates from all parts of the county attended the church service. Burial was at Fyler.

Members of the Fire Co. attended the funeral in a body in uniform. The Grange and County Highway Superintendent Association also attended as did Town Officials and the County Highway Department.

The train which struck the truck causing Mr. Carpenter’s death stopped as soon as possible and the crew returned to the scene. Later the train continued its run. Coroner Boyd was assisted in his preliminary investigation by Troopers Harold Lutz, Robert Wyllie, Brannigan, Brunkhurst, and Sargenti of Oneida.

Members of the road crew working on the job and who witnessed the tragedy were: Merle Weeks, Thomas Austin, Clifford Moth, Judson Wheeler and James Devine.

Note: Communities mentioned above are in Madison County, NY