Escambia County John Doe is a man who was killed in a train accident in Olive, Florida on May 22, 1916.
Case[]
The victim was discovered around 4:30 PM on the bank of the Escambia River, about one mile north of Olive station, and about eight miles from Olive by section boss J.J. Colly. Colly reported one side of his head was beaten and crushed by some heavy instrument and his clothes showed that a struggle had taken place before death. Although the ground had been dampened from the day's rains, there was every evidence that a struggle had preceded the death blow. His body was transferred to Pou's undertaking parlor.
Initially, it is believed the victim was murdered by blunt force trauma. However, is believed he was killed by a passing train as his leg bones were crushed, but his skin was not broken. Coroner Will L. Johnson empanelled a jury and for an hour or more, but the jury declared his cause of death as being unknown.
One lead suggested that the victim could be a young man who was reported missing from Troy, Alabama. When photographs were compared, it was reported there was no resemblance.
The victim is now buried at the Potter's Field Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.
Characteristics[]
- Short is stature.
Clothing[]
- Working clothing.