New Trials and Conclusion

The next few months were difficult for Barney Coffey.  First, he had not been at his farm for almost a month and it needed care.  But more importantly is the public opinion was that Hamilton was surely guilty and Barney was one of the men, in their eyes, that hung the jury.  Although Mr. Coffey was a well respected man in the community, not all his neighbors were pleased on how he voted.  Some neighbors avoided him.  Some were more angry and direct, telling him how they felt.  He heard the snickers and saw people look his way, point, and whisper. Barney waited for Hamilton’s next trial, hoping it would stop the negative reactions by his friends and neighbors. 

 

So what happened with George Hamilton and the five others?  Early in August, Fred Newport surprised the court and also turned state’s evidence to reduce his charge from first degree murder to second degree manslaughter.  He testified along with Vassen at Oliver J Lloyd’s August 1887 trial held in Poala, Miami County, KS.  However even with his appearance and that of Vassen’s, a jury acquitted Oliver J. Lloyd.   Sheriff Ferguson immediately took Lloyd into custody and returned him to Wyandotte County for trial of the original charge, a train derailment in Ramapo.[1]  Fred Newport’s trial, also in Poala, Miami County, started just a few days after Lloyd’s.  Newport pleaded guilty for second degree manslaughter, a charge that could result in 5-20 years in prison.  However, he did not serve prison time and was allowed to leave after his plea.  William Vassen, who turned state’s evidence, was free and was no longer in the news.    

 

George Hamilton’s second trial began on August 26, 1887, at the Wyandotte County court, and was considered much stronger than the first.  Vassen and Newport both testified.  On September 3^rd, Hamilton testified on his own defense.  The courtroom was crowded with Knights of Labor members.  Hamilton stated that he was a carpenter, married with a family.  Before the strike he was a coach inspector.  He stated he was a member, and on the executive board of the local union chapter.  On April 25^th, 1886  he spent most of the day at the union hall.  He left between 6:30 PM returning to the hall at 9:00 PM.  He did borrow the wig from his neighbor, Mr. Law, to have a little fun.  He also used the wig as disguise when meeting with a Mr. Wright who was at the railroad shop, and Hamilton did not want to be identified as being on railroad grounds.  He testified that he spent the rest of the night at the hall.  Vassen and McNamara left around midnight. Hamilton stayed in the company of Feeney, Leary, Lloyd, Monahan, Newport.  It was not unusual for him to stay overnight, so he could be in touch with the strikers. After leaving the hall at 4:00 AM for a short period of time for food, he returned and at about 6:00 AM, heard the news of the wreck.  He tried to walk down 6^th Street to see it, but was told that he would not be able to get near enough to see anything due to the guards.  In cross exam Hamilton said that he had not heard of any vandalism during the strike.  “Never heard of it.” [2]  Next on the stand were several men who testified giving alibis for him for the time period of the train wreck.

 

The following day, Saturday, September 10, 1887, the trial concluded and the case went to jury at 10:00 AM.  They had not agreed that day and were locked up for the night and for the weekend. Court resumed on Monday, September 12^th.  The juror had come to a decision.  George Hamilton was acquitted and allowed to return to his home.[3] 

 

Barney felt some redemption.  His acquittal vote was multiplied twelve times over and Hamilton was freed.  While still a very unpopular outcome, the burden was no longer Barney’s.  It was the twelve jurors in the second trial who agreed that there was not enough evidence.  Also, with the passage of time, life became easier for Barney.  The staring, whispers and talk settled down. Barney continued farming his 160 acres in Wyandotte County.

 

After the two acquittals, Hamilton’s and Lloyd’s, the government decided to release Robert Geers and Michael Leary nolle prossed, a Latin phrase which translates to “we will not prosecute.” It is usually made after the charges are brought, but before a verdict.  The two men were released on November 2, 1887, after spending 17 months in jail.  But there’s more to their stories. Both Geers and Leary filed civil suits against the Missouri Pacific for $50,000 each for wrongful arrest.  Geers states that he lost $2.50 a day in wages while waiting in jail from May 26, 1886 to November 2, 1887.[4] Both men contended that  they lost their health with worry and their good  reputations.  The legal response from the railroad was that if the men testify under oath that they had nothing to do with the April 26^th wreck, they would be sued for perjury.[5]  It is not known if this ever went to trial or money was collected. In the same 1889 news article, it stated that Lloyd has moved to the south.  Newport moved to Philadelphia.

 

The failure of Great Train Strike of 1886 was the beginning of the end for the Knights of Labor.  It had not drawn the support of the engineers, and started the division amongst its members.[6]  This strike, plus the Haymarket riot and the collapse of the 1887 Sugar Strike in Louisiana were demoralizing to the union and by 1890, only 10% of its membership remained active.  The organization dwindled until its final convention in 1932.

 

P.S. Aren’t newspapers great!

 

---

[1] Emporia Weekly News, June 23, 1887 page 1

[2] The Council Grove Republican September 8, 1887 page 2

[3] The Topeka Daily Capital September 13, 1887 Page 1

[4] The Kansas City Gazette November 21, 1888 page 1

[5] The Valley Falls New Era October 3, 1889 page 1

[6] Wikipedia.com  The Great Train Strike of 1886

 

 

Barney Coffey, Juror, at the Trial

On the first day of the trial, Dec 31, 1886, the court was filled. Vassen, key witness, gave his testimony about the events leading up to and after the train wreck.  He appeared very honest and any attempt to change his story proved futile.  Ex Governor Johnson tried many angles during the cross examination, but could not entrap Vassen.[1]  Another witness, Mrs.Horton, wife of Ben Horton, the fireman, testified how badly disfigured her husband’s body was when it was brought to her for burial.

 

The most important witness on the second day of the trial, January 1, 1887 (Happy New Year!) was George A. Fowler, the detective that posed as Brother Albert.  He surprised the jury by testifying of an incident with the Mayor Hannon, of Kansas City, KS, who was a known Knight of Labor member.  While Hannon believed that Fowler was Brother Albert from the executive board, Hannon promised Fowler, that he (Hannon) would shield the six wreckers (from justice.)  Hannon had sent a buggy for the six plus Brother Albert and others.  It had been Fowler’s intent to arrest the six at this meeting, but deferred, due to Hannon’s comments.  In another incident, Sherriff Ferguson gave the secret handshake of the Knights of Labor when Fowler extended his hand as Brother Alfred. Fowler also testified that Ferguson gave Fowler, as a Knight of Labor, permission to go to jail and visit Lloyd.

 

This testimony caused quite a sensation. After Fowler concluded for the day, Sheriff Ferguson jumped up and accused him of lying under oath[2].  Ferguson then reached for his revolver, but other detectives gathered around Fowler and the audience began to move away.[3]  The men were quickly separated and met in a smaller room where the matter was discussed.  Ferguson insisted that Fowler withdraw his statement, but Fowler refused.  With assistance, the two men cooled down and the trial ended for the day.

 

On January 6^th the trial continued.  Several men, members of the Knights of Labor gave alibis for Hamilton, saying he spent the entire night with them at the Knight of Labor meeting room. Under cross examination, the alibis stories seemed weak. Sheriff Ferguson took the stand to say that while he had been a union member for three years, he was not a current member of the Knights of Labor. Mayor Hannon of Kansas City took the stand to say that he was a current member of the Knights of Labor, but denied that it helped him get elected.  He did not remember too much about the night of the buggy ride, other than a tour of the town. 

 

The trial’s closing arguments were on January 8^th, and the jurors, including Barney Coffey, met until midnight.  Not reaching a verdict, they were locked up for a night of sleep to resume deliberations in the morning.  Six days later, on January 14^th, the judge called the jurors into court.  They were helplessly deadlocked.  The judge released the jurors, including Barney.  The newspaper listed the names of the jurors and HOW they voted.  Everyone in Prairie Township and beyond, area that Coffey had voted acquittal or innocent.  Hamilton went back to jail to await a new trial. 

---

 

Next Hamilton's new trial and the conclusion.

---

[1] Marion Recorder, Jan 7, 1887 page 2

[2] In those days it was called “false swearing”

[3] Lawrence Daily Journal Jan 1, 1887 page 1

The Preliminary Hearing Full of Surprises

In the early morning hours of July 30, the Wyandotte county courtroom of Justice Anderson was filled with people wanting to hear the preliminary examination of the six defendants, Hamilton, Geers, Leary, Vassen, Lloyd and Newport.   Soon after court convened, it was adjourned until 1:30 PM to a much smaller group.   Only those close to the hearing were invited.  The accused were presented by Governor Johnson, and several other lawyers.  The six entered the room wearing the same clothes as the night of their arrest. Their wives were present.  It was first announced that Hamilton, Geers and Leary would be examined together.  The Prosecuting Attorney Gibson surprised the court when he called the first witness, William Vassen, who had not told the others that he had turned State’s evidence.  Governor Johnson quickly asked that the witness be instructed that he did not have to incriminate himself, but Vassen calmly replied that he was ready to testify.

 

He started by admitting to being a member of the Knights of Labor, District Assembly 101 having joined in October or November of 1885.  On the night of April 26^th, he met Lloyd, Hamilton and several other men at the lodge at 1919 West 6^th St.  At about half past midnight, Hamilton invited the group out for a drink, after which they returned to the hall where Hamilton took out a grey wig and adjusted it on his head, then added a big slouchy hat.  Lloyd, who too was wearing a hat, asked Vassen if he’d like to join them for a walk. They walked west on 6^th St., to the river, crossed the Riverview bridge.  The group consisted of Hamilton, Lloyd, Geers, Newport, Leary, Riggins, Verner and the witness Vassen.  They walked to the curve, where Lloyd got out a pick ax and began to draw the spikes on the track along the river.  Vassen suggested that they instead use the bluff side of the track as it would be less dangerous.  Lloyd replied “*#$%&, we want to throw the train into the river and kill the whole crowd.” He saw Geers and Newport also loosen spikes. When a northbound train came by, the men hid. Vassen kept guard while other completed the work.  Newport threw a crowbar into the river.  Newport, Hamilton, and Lloyd Vassen returned via the Wyandotte iron bridge.  He left the group at James and Third and went home to bed.  He does not know what the other men did. 

 

Lloyd came to Vassen’s house the next day and told him that there had been a big wreck.  Lloyd later said he wanted to see all of the scabs killed. There were several discussions amongst the men for days afterwards.  Vassen commented that they should be quiet, and not put their foot in their mouth. [1]

 

At the end of the hearing, Justice Anderson held the six in jail without bail until September 13^th.  By late summer the momentum of the strike had simply faded.  By September, the strike was over.  On November 23, H.M. Hoxie, the target of the union, and the general manager of the Gould Southwest Railway, and Vice President of Missouri Pacific died in his home at the Metropolitas Opera House in New York City.  After the strike settled, he complained of exhaustion and in May had taken time off for kidney stone surgery and recovery.  He became weaker after surgery and died with his wife at his side.  At his request, he was buried next to his only child, a son, in Iowa. [2]

 

The next article I find is about the December 22^nd hearing.  There are some interesting defenses. The case against them for Horton’s death is dropped (no reason given) so the defense moves to have them released arguing that killing two men at one time is one crime and since the one case was dropped, then the case regarding Carlisle’s murder should be dropped also.  This was refused by the judge.  The case against Lloyd was moved to Miami County to be more impartial. The same for change of venue was made for Newport, but the decision was not immediately rendered.  The case for Hamilton was ready to go to trial.  The defense asked for 10 more days to prepare, but it was refused.  Judge Hindman started jury selection.  Twelve men were available and eleven interviewed.  None was selected.  The judge made a special request for 100 men to be available for jury duty. [3] By Dec 28^th, 160 men were examined, and in a surprise decision, the twelfth man, a member of the Knights of Labor, was selected as the last juror[4]  Barney Coffey, age 62, was one of the jurors, and was sequestered with the rest and heard the following at the trial. (Next the trial.)

 

---

[1] The Weekly Kansas Chief August 5, 1886 page 1

[2] Emporia Weekly News, November 25, 1886 page 1

[3] The Daily Commonwealth of Topeka Kansas December 23, 1886 page 1

[4] The Daily Commonwealth of Topeka Kansas December 29, 1886 page 1

The Train Wreck

The accident occurred between James St. and 6th Street Bridge, Kansas City, KS where the river bends to the southwest.  The track hugs the river bank and is near the edge of the river, 10-20 feet above it.  On April 26, 1886, at about 4:30 AM, freight train #38 consisting of the engine and six cars, was eastbound rounding a curve southwest of the Wyandotte Bridge, along the bank of the Kaw River[1].  The train was moving slowly, about 5 miles/hour through the curve, when the engine and four cars suddenly left the track.  The engine and the first two cars hurled over the embankment, turned upside down and landed in the mud close to the river.  The two next cars rolled down an embankment and two remained on the track.  A fire immediately started.  The sound of crashing cars was heard by many.  Hundreds of people came running to the pre-dawn scene.

 

Riding on the engine that night were J.H. Fowler the engineer, Ben F. Horton, fireman and George Carlisle, head brakeman.  Fowler was thrown into the river from the train, and was able to wade to shore, relatively uninjured.  Sadly, Horton and Carlisle’s bodies were found in the engine crushed and scalded to death.  Carlisle’s body was described as “crushed and cooked”.   Horton’s crushed.  It took four hours to remove them.  A wrecking train came and cleared the track.  By noon the track was ready for travel.

 

---

[1] Now known as the Kansas River

 The accident occurred just south of the James St. Bridge.  The train was going in a northeast dirctionat the curve and next to the left bank of the river.  Across the river is W. 6th St. the location of the union headquarters.

 

Immediately the officials realized this was a result of malicious tampering with the rails.  The spikes had been removed and the fish plates taken from fifteen rails along the most dangerous part of the curve.  Fowler, the only survivor said he had a feeling that there would be trouble at the bridge and thus went at a very slow speed.  He saw a number of men near the bridge watching.  He had just reached for his rifle when the train threw him into the air.  About an hour before the accident, passengers on a west bound train that had travelled through there later reported that they had been fired upon.  Mr. H. M. Hoxie, First Vice President of the Missouri Pacific company offered $2500 for information that would lead to the capture and conviction of all the men who “ditched” the train and $1000 for information leading to the conviction of any one of them.  An inquest by the coroner was convened on April 27^th in Kansas City, KS. After which Horton’s wife came to take his body home to Oak Grove, Iowa for burial.

 

Except for a few editorials about event’s severity and that the men responsible should be held accountable and sentenced to fit the horrendous crime, not much else is mention of the case for several months. But on Sunday night, July 19, 1886, Sheriff James Ferguson of Wyandotte County and his deputies took five of the six men into custody at the county jail, George Hamilton, the suspected ringleader, Robert Geers, Michael Leary, Fred Newport, and William Vassen.  That night, Hamilton was working security at the Brooklyn Park resort outside of the city was arrested at 10:00 PM and taken to jail before his charges were read.  Next Geers’ home was surrounded at midnight by detectives who woke him up and arrested him.  Newport, who had been working as a car repairer, was arrested shortly thereafter.   Vassen an employee of an ice firm and Leary were the last to be arrested at their homes, pre-dawn on July 20^th morning.[1]  All were members of the executive board of the local lodge of Knights of Labor union.  The sixth man, Oliver J Lloyd, who had been a car repairer, was arrested separately the same morning and held.

 

How these men were fingered, was very interesting.  The authorities had several clues.  A pinch-bar was found near the wreck.   An actor, Mr. Law, a neighbor of Hamilton’s, reported that Hamilton had borrowed a gray wig as a disguise that night.  A boatman reported having been hired to take the six men across the river in a skiff the evening of the wreck.  He could identify three by name, Hamilton, Geers and Leary.[2]  During the months that followed, detectives gathered clues by quietly sitting (even pretending to dose off) in bars frequented by Knights of Labor, to overhear conversations.

  

Sheriff Ferguson focused on one man, Oliver J. Lloyd, who was arrested in late June or early July for his responsibility in another train wreck in Ramapo, KS just outside Wyandotte County. Lloyd was seen flipping a switch that caused a mail train to derail.[3] Two detectives, posing as a members of the Knights of Labor, Brother George Alfred (actually George A. Fowler) and Brother Thomas Martel (actually Thomas Furlong) visited the union’s Kansas City, MO headquarters located at 1919 W Sixth St.  Their cover story was that they were secret service officers, from the national executive board in Scranton, PA, who were sent with money for Lloyd’s bail.  Saying that the executive board thought that it was important to get Lloyd out of jail, Alfred and Martel used $1500 (which was obtained by Detective Thomas Furlong of the Missouri Pacific) to  bail Lloyd out . Alfred stood before the judge and told how he would be responsible if Lloyd jumped bail, earning Lloyd’s trust.  Immediately leaving court, the three men hired a hack which drove them just in time to board the train to St. Louis (via Chicago.)  This was ostensively to get away from the Kansas City officers. 

 

In a rented house in St. Louis, the three men met with four (pretend) members of the union’s executive council, including a (fake) lawyer to work out a defense strategy.[4] The “lawyer” suggested Lloyd get several alibis for the Ramapo incident, and to stretch out the start of the trial as long as possible.  As the meeting was ending, one of the group who had stepped outside on an “errand” said he’d received a telegram directing the group to go to Pacific Junction, Iowa to assist union brothers who had been arrested for firing at a Missouri Pacific train. [5] The group of seven rode in a special private sleeper car to save money.  (A member of the union, still working for the Missouri Pacific, had supposedly obtained the car for free.)  The detectives continued to gain Lloyd’s confidence, and Lloyd, while still on the train, gave the detective/union members the details of the derailment, and train wreck and the meetings that lead up to it.  Lloyd even told of an earlier plot by Hamilton and others to kill H.M. Hoxie, the Missouri Pacific Vice President and the chief strike negotiator, and Sheriff Ferguson.  There had been a change in Hoxie’s travel plans, and this plan was never carried out. What Lloyd did not know was that he was on a private car that eventually went past the scene of the accident.  Early, the morning of July 20^th, the detectives revealed their true identities and re-arrested Lloyd on the train.  He was handcuffed and held in the private car waiting on a side rail until all of the others were arrested.  [6] (Next the preliminary hearing with some surprises.)

 

 

---

[1] Osage County Chronicle, July 22, 1886 page 2

[2] Hutchinson News, July 21, 1886 page 1

[3] Hutchinson News, July 21, 1886 page 1

[4] Real detectives

 

[6] Fort Scott Daily Monitor, July 20, 1886, page 1

Barney Coffey (1824-1898) and a Free Newspaper Subscription

A seven day free subscription to the newspaper website www.newspapers.com was too tempting to pass up.  So I signed on and as any good genealogist would do, immediately went to work searching for any articles that name family members.  One name, Barney Coffey, is my third gr-grandfather, born 1824, Ireland, died 1898 Menager, Wyandotte, Kansas.  New information included three 1875 articles listing him as a delegate for the Independent Reform (party) Convention,   one in 1883 when he (good Irish Catholic)  is building a home for a priest, one in 1884, when he reports the current crops growing better than those in the past, two in 1885 and 1886 when he is elected as one of six road overseers for Prairie Township, three February 1888 articles about his appointment as postmaster in Menager, Wyandotte County, KS , two September 1888 articles advertising the leasing of coal rights on his property.  Next are Barney’s 1898 obit and forty two times when the same legal notice regarding his probate ran between Feb 14, 1899 and April 3, 1899.

 

Then there were the two articles about his jury duty in December 30, 1886 and the trial verdict on January 20, 1887.  I almost overlooked the possibilities of a good story, but with a just two days left on my free subscription, I check the facts closer.  The first article gave some clues that this was a bigger than usual trial.  The trial is about a man – George H. Hamilton who is accused being part of a group of men responsible for a train wreck on April 26, 1886.  The jury was sequestered for the entire trial.  Twelve men, of which nine are farmers.  Names and townships were listed including my Barney from Prairie Township. Maybe look into this more.

 

The January 20^th article states that it took 94 hours before the judge called the jury to court.  Judge Hindman spoke.  Normally he did not allow a jury to deliberate so long, but because of the nature of the trail, he allowed it.  Still, it was a hopelessly hung jury.  Seven for the conviction, five for acquittal.  The paper actually listed each juror’s name and HOW he voted!  Barney voted for acquittal.  A new trial would begin soon.  Hamilton returned to jail awaiting his next trial.

 

I almost overlooked the case, but realized…sequestering, one of a group of men responsible, train wreck, hung jury.  What was the rest of the story?  What happened at the next trial?  What happened to the other men in the group?  So I did a search on…George Hamilton, found the five other men’s names and the name of the railroad, the Missouri Pacific.    Using these as a search, I found the rest of the story.

 

Surprisingly, only two articles were about the train wreck itself.  The Topeka Daily Capital gave it front page coverage on April 27^th. The first headline I saw, in the April 27^th, 1886 Lawrence Daily Journal  reads:

 

A Terrible and Fatal Train Wreck on the Missouri Pacific.

The Work of Miscreants.

The Fireman and Brakeman Crushed and Cooked –

The Engineer Saves His Life by Jumping

…Full Details

 

To give you a background, there had been an ongoing and tumultuous railroad workers’ strike starting  March 6, 1886. Known as the Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886, the railroad workers in the organization called the Knights of Labor, working in the southwest United States (at that time) conducted strike against railroads owned by Jay Gould, a ruthless industrialist who owned about 12% of the railway track at that time.  His businesses included the elevated lines in New York City, The Western Union telegraph service, and several railroad including the Missouri Pacific.   The Knights of Labor was formed in 1869. Acting similar to a union, demands included eight hour work days, an end to child labor and graduated income taxes.  By 1886, membership jumped to 800,000 members.  

 

The 1886 strike action was sparked by the dismissal of a Texas employee who had attended a union meeting on company time. More than 200,000 workers were on strike in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Texas. [1]There had been much vandalism and just a week before this accident, the railway advertised a $300 reward for information leading to the arrest for such crimes.  The strikers were particularly angry at one man, H.M. Hoxie who managed the Gould Southwestern Railway. Hoxie’s response indicated that the strike left 10,000 men out of work nearly stopped the travel on 5,000 miles of railway traffic in four states effecting four million people.[2] Leaders of the union, and the railway company met in March, 1886, but were unable to reach agreement.  Pinkerton detectives were hired.  While the governor of Texas and Missouri hired State Militia for protection, Kansas’s governor refused, stating there had been no reports of incidences.  However newspapers reported many incidences in Kansas where shots were fired, switching stations burned, trains uncoupled and trains wrecked.  The railroad was forced to hire private security. Governor John A. Martin eventually the First State Militia and tried to help the union and railroad negotiate. (Next –The Train Wreck)

---

[1] Wikipedia.org Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886

[2] The Daily Commonwealth March 10, 1886

The Rest of Albert's Story

In speaking with his son, I was told Albert left out a couple parts of the story.  Although they had brought cans of food, they forgot a can opener, so were not able to eat what little food they had.  Also, in order to hide from the guards, they would hide under human cadavers that were piled in the train car.  The friend was captured at the train station and taken back to camp where he stayed until the end of the war.  When he got out of the train station, he asked for help from a person on the street.  This was difficult because they did not want to ask a Nazi sympathizer.  The first person just shrugged and walked away.  The second person, the one in the café, helped him.

Taunte Marthe lived across the street from a Nazi headquarters.  Although the Natz’s raided building, looking for people like him who were hiding, they never raided her building.  Who would be so bold to hide someone so close by?  Albert lived in the attic of the three flat.  The other families knew he lived they, but kept his secret.  What frightened Taunte Marthe was that Albert joined the Belgian Resistance, the underground organization of ordinary citizens who worked against the Nazi’s whenever possible.  He was a gun runner for them.  In exchange for Taunte Marthe’s bravery of hiding him, Albert promised to pay for her housing for the rest of her life.  A promise he kept.

She lived in Liege for many years, in an apartment Albert owned.  She did little things like collecting rent.  Later she moved back to Bastogne, where she lived in a nursing home.  Albert and his wife took very good care of her. 

 Albert was very lucky after the war.  He won the lottery.  With that money, he invested in houses.  In Belgium, many people invest in reverse mortgages, which is how he purchased his homes.  He worked hard with his father as a butcher until his retirement when his oldest son  took over the business.  Albert and his wife had three sons,   His second son built a hotel business in Bastogne.  His third son lives on the outskirts of town.  

The Routes

In his story, several towns were listed for the trip to prison camp near Anklam

Olsene, Belgium

Dienzen, then Ghent

Terneuzen

Then boat to Wezel, (near Emden?)  then camps at Bathorn

Dortmund (camp)

Anklam (finally)

Using those towns, the route looked something like this:

On the way back to Liege was much longer.  As he tells the story, the train ride was:

Anklam

Pasewalk

Swinemunde (part of Poland)

Magdebourg

Aachen

Verviers

Liege

Normally a direct route Anklam to Liege is a little over 500 miles.  His trip was about 750 miles.

   

Albert’s Story; His Escape from the Nazis

Memorial Day.  A time to remember those who served. Albert Colin fought against and was captured by the Nazis in WWII. Memorial Day is in honor of all who served to save our freedom. Albert fits this definition, with a twist. He was not an American soldier; he was Belgian. He is a family hero.

A little bit about the story behind the story. Albert Collin is my second cousin, once removed, but I considered him more like a great uncle. His father was my grandmother, Lucie Mazoin’s first cousin and her godfather. Albert was in the Belgian army and the entire army was captured in 1940 and sent to Nazi camps. After a little over a year, the uniforms they were wearing were falling apart and the German’s allowed the men to write home and ask for civilian clothes to wear, which helped his get away. Here is how he daringly escaped in his own word, originally in French, written in 2006.

Albert’s Story; His Escape from the Nazis

May 1940. War is declared: it's May 8 From Bastogne to Lys, the Belgian Army made strategic retreats after battling against an enemy who is better armed and better trained. The surrender takes place: May 28, the Belgian army surrendered without glory. The Germans take us from Olsene towards Deinze, Ghent, Teneuzen then by barge through Holland. I remember Dordrecht, Nimègne. We saw the water of the Escaut, the, Meuse, and the Rhine. We landed at Wezel (I think) then (go to) the camps: Whitmarclien!!, Bathorn!!, Dortmund and finally, Greiswald in Pomerania.

A few days later we went to a farm in Stretense. We were three fellow infantrymen, buddies, Nizet, Degros and me. There were thirty from different military branches, from Liege, from Borains (Walloons from Hainaut), the Ardennes. We stayed there for about fourteen or fifteen months. I have long forgotten. I overlook the adventures we had there with the guards and civilian sentinels.

This was around January 13th, it was bitterly cold. To work at the door, I was forced to not wear my gloves. By working in the train station this morning, I saw that they had put car letter on the train cars, which I knew must be delivered to Belgium. After glancing at it, I saw they had to go to Ghent. I knew they were going  to Belgium because of two comrades in the labor squad who worked at the train station had already tried (to escape) but their adventure had ended and they had returned from  Pasewalk, the next station, 40 kilometers away from where we were in Anklam and 40 kilometers from Stettin. 

At noon, I told my teammate Albert Herman, who was from Stembert, that we had to leave that evening. He hesitated, dreading the cold. I said that I would leave by myself if he did not. "Bursting to burst”.( Also translated as” Dying for dying” – and expression meaning take a chance)  I could not stay (at the camp)any longer.  The day before, I had almost had a fight my boss, Mr. Roeuls, a very big member of the Nazi party.   I had been visited and l had been robbed of my good money which I collected for my flight.  I plotted (my escape) in confidence with a man named Joseph (can’t remember last name) from Welkenraedt, a member of my working squad.  He then threatened to make me change working squads.   He knew that I wanted to save myself. He charged me 25 good marks and (only) gave me some lagergelds (prison money). Finally, the departure was arranged for that evening. My good friend Albert St. Viteux, from Lower Rendeux who knew our plans for a long time, turned the evening into a farewell dinner by drawing on food reserves. He wept as he thought of the adventure were we to start on. We made our packages from the few treasures that we had. Our food was 3 or 4 cans, 2 breads, cookies, chocolates, and two gourds of water. 

After having pushing away the interpreter who was half-Kraut, (half German) who stood in our dining hall, we left with the farewells and "good luck" of my five friends from the little room where I slept. I learned later, from (Albert) St. Viteux who came back ill, they had a dummy in my bed to fool the guard when he checked in. We went to the station, 20 minutes away. It was dark and cold, we lost a water gourd on the way. At the station, Albert stayed near the warehouse and I went to the train car which was difficult to find. I made the cry of the owl, he came to find me.

After climbing up into the train car, we slipped under a canvas tarp, face down, we were not there half an hour we were shivering with cold. Albert wanted to go already. Despite my pleas, he slipped out, saying he heard footsteps. When he reached the ground and saw there was no one there, he told me to make a hole, which I did, putting the boots back into the canvas tarp so it remained flat. So we were able to squat, him sitting on my feet, me on his and the night passed. We still believed the train was leaving because the train was moving around.  The next morning we were still there and suddenly we heard the Germans. They were looking for us! For a moment, I sensed that someone was putting a ladder against the train car and someone was moving the tarpaulin. I told my friend: "Do not move until they have us by the collar.".One (guard) moved a boot and put it back.  We were saved.

 Of the six train cars that were there, they had unloaded four, (Albert) St. Viteux told me later, and I could hear my co-worker shout to the other friends, “Collin escaped and he said nothing to me yesterday and I was with him all day."  An hour later, the train left. At Pasewalk, we stayed all day and night. We did not leave until about three o'clock the next afternoon. We did not know why we stayed for so long at the first stop. We wanted to go out for a ticket at the counter, maybe to Berlin where we had the addresses of connections. The next station was Swinemunde. We heard someone shout "End of journey" to the Belgians. We would have liked to seen them to get a water because ours was empty and we were thirsty. In the evening, we took aspirin to combat the cold that numbed us. When we were moving, we could sleep but the dust would make us snore. For coughing, we had put a scarf over the mouth and inhaling, still swallowing more dust we wanted.

The train car rolled and jerked to reach Magdebourg. We heard that we were there by listening to the train station loud speakers. It was dark and suddenly there was an alert. Then we drew lots to determine who would fetch some snow for water to put in the gourds because we needed water to quench our thirst, which caused us to suffer a lot. It was Albert Herman, who drew the short straw, but he would not go, saying he was too thirsty. He showed me his legs by sticking his finger there. The mark stayed in (the skin stayed indented, indicating lack of fluids.)  I looked at mine, it was the same thing. I was too thirsty (dehydrated) also. I went off the train car with my sox on because I was rushing to take advantage of the alert as the Krauts were holed up (occupied with the alert) for those few moments ... I slid out, I placed myself under the train car, filled my mouth with snow as well as my snow cap, but I had to climb back in and this was another drama. My fingers were numb, stiff, I could no longer feel them and I had no more strength. I was at the end of my rope. I climbed on the first step. I managed to put my hat with the snow in it on the pile. But I did not know to slip under the canvas tarp, my arm was trapped between a support and the boots. I shouted at Albert to come help me, but he went in the opposite direction. I fell to the ground making noise.  I only had time to grab a chain as the train was moving and I risked having my feet cut off. The train car moved only five or six meters. After several attempts, I managed to get into the train car, but we could not find the hole (our entrance). We needed to get our bearing and we remeasured with our arms to find it. Once I was inside, we were drinking but the snow was full of oil. It was disgusting, and increased our thirst even more.  I realized that I had gotten my feet are wet. I removed one sock when suddenly we heard Germans who were walking near the next train car, saying there were footprints and fingerprints under the car and then all night, we heard coughing from brakeman's cab. We dared not move. Albert was lying on my twisted foot.

In the morning the train started again. This was a relief for me. They went on a big bridge over a frozen river. All snow was gone and I was still thirsty, and even a little movement caused dust (to fly). To not cough, I covered my mouth with a scarf because the dust irritated our throats when we swallowed. I took a piece of jujube (fruit candy) that I melted in the mouth and then urinated in a tin can drank the piss. The juice helped hide the taste. We were losing hope of arriving. When I looked through the hole, I saw factories. I told my friend that we were at the Ruhr, and then I saw a station that I have ever seen on the map before and then there were still factories ... One morning, I saw Aachen. "It’s Aix-la-Chapelle" said Albert. "In one hour, we'll be home. In Verviers, we can jump down." So we put our shoes on as we well could because it was difficult to bend our fingers much, they were like small sausages. Five or ten minutes later, the train stopped and was constant jerking. From my little hole, I saw dozens of cars of flax. We were hoping to leave from one moment to next. Night fell and still nothing happened. We took our two daily aspirin and we fell asleep. Then, my friend woke me up. "Listen," he said,” they are speaking French. "Indeed, it was the Belgian Machinists who were talking about the train departure and sending the Krauts to sh__ .. We rejoiced again. We said "This is it, we'll go!" 

All night we were on the alert. We once again took off our shoes and kept our feet swaddled because it was cold. I had, in addition to the sox, pulled out the flannel lining of my sleeves of my hooded coat and twisted it (around my feet to protect from the cold). In the morning, still nothing. We decided that if during the evening we could still hear the machinists speaking French, (we get out of the train car) we would ask them to take us. That night, as soon as we heard machines (running), I told Albert: "Get out, your turn." But he would not. I put my shoes on and hopped out of the train car. I fell on all fours in the snow. I could not even sit up. I crawled up to a machine that I saw about a hundred meters away. When I got there, which was difficult, I listened to them talk. They were from Liège. I shouted: "Hey, what new?" "Come in," they said, but they had to pull me in (onto the train engine), because I had no strength. I explained my case in two words. They wanted me to hide in the coal to get past the customs. They gave me hot coffee which stimulated me. They also told me "Hurry up and get your friend, but if you hear the whistle, do not come, it means is that we left." I returned to look for Albert, but he could not get out. I had to climb back into in the car to pull him out. He wept.

When all this was done, we went where the locomotive was, but nothing more. (It was gone.) What to do? A Kraut was there with a flashlight, looking around our car. He looked at the footprints, and then he left. A locomotive came close to our train car. I returned there. These men were Flemish. They did not want to take us. I promised them five thousand francs when the engine began to move. I went on the right side, Albert remained on the left. I asked the Flemish to take us. They replied: "Het te laat " (it's too late). I tried to put my package on the front of the second engine, but I fell down. I knelt and tried to get up when the first step of the train car passed me. I clung using all my arm strength, I managed to sit on it. I heard my friend shout: "Albert, do not abandon me." But it was a rule between the escapees: in an escape, if there is one that falls, it was too bad for him.

 I managed to get into the train car. Immediately I put my package in a bag and myself in another one because the first machinists warned me that customs was nearby and strict. Indeed, a few minutes later, the train stopped ... A customs officer went into the compartment, but he did not look into the bags. I held my breath so my heart was tight and then (success) I was on my way to Belgium. They drove all night. It was a night of anguish. I recognized Verviers and its (yarn/thread spinning) mills, then there was the Val-Bieniot bridge guarded by a Kraut sentry. I was in Liege, I was going to be free. I was leaping a meter in the air so I was happy.

I saw workmen who were clearing snow from tracks at Guillemins (train station in Liege). How to get out of the compartment? It was full of Krauts both armed and unarmed. I took an all or nothing chance. I put my snow mask as a cap, and my scarf, I let it hang  to my knees to hide my torn pants that had been dragged in Montzen. The exit was just opposite. I went directly to it. The employee asked me my ticket. I told him: "I am a Belgian escapee" and I made my way to the Place Guillemins (Guillemins Square). I dropped my packages, and my heart leaped high. I wondered if it (this freedom) was possible.

Where to go with my twenty francs? It was six o'clock in the morning as I saw a clock in the corner of the Plan road. I saw the light of a small cafe. I went up there because I saw the "open" sign. I looked inside. There was only one man warming himself. I pushed the door and went immediately inside by the stove. When the owner came and saw me, he said: "This is another French escapee." in his Liege dialect. I replied in the same dialect that I was not a French escapee, but a Belgian and that I was very thirsty. Immediately, he gave me something to drink and to eat. Then he asked me where I came from and if I wanted a room to sleep

. A bed! It had been a long time since I had slept in a bed! I drank eight or ten small beers (demis) and as many cups of coffee with rum. Meanwhile, the two men entered who knew me, a (Mr.) Fautré and a (Mr.) Gyot of Vilieroux who wanted me to return with them. I handed them a note for my parents. Then the owner let me sleep in the bed of a couple who had just vacated. I slept like a log.

Suddenly the door opened wide. A gentleman, one hand in his pocket, came next to my bed and asked. me the same questions as the owner of the cafe. I explained that I had relatives[1] in Kimkempois (a town near Liege) and he could call the bakery (now I do not remember the name). The gentleman told me that his name was Werens, that when I have (suitable) clothes, I would go to his home. They nursed my feet and they gave me money to take the tram up to Kimkempois. My Uncle William (Guillaume) brought Philippe’s clothes. (Philippe) was in England. I had difficulty putting the shoes, as my feet were frozen and swollen. Then, the owner sent me to the barber next door, and I must tell him that I was going to Namur. I was shaved for free. I learned that I was the ll7th escapee and only the 3rd Belgian. (The rest were French.) Then I went on foot to Kimkempois. I went to the home of my Uncle William and Aunt Theresa.

The next day my mother arrived in tears and was happy to see me again. Then, Aunt Martha and I, we took foot baths. The door bell rang and it was Mariette, the wife of Charles Tomson which I had written about he was the machinist for the first engine. They came to say that they had seen me in Montzen but did not know any more. Because there were black, "the Rexists" (Rexists were a conservative party, popular in 1930’s in the Walloon area of Belgium, that sympathized with the Nazi’s), at the old dispensary of the Northern railroad line, it was decided that I would move in with Aunt Martha (who lived in a safer area.)[2] And that's where I stayed until September 15, 1944.

 I was treated by Mr. Doctor Lewalle, 8 North Street, and supplied in ration stamps by Mr. Dean Keufgens, 2 Place Saint-Barthelemy. I got my first fake ID card from Mr. Collignon on who was later excuted by rifle, on Jonruelle Street. A little later, when I was healed, I went to work in Hustinne pipe factory where I was put on the list of people who went to the Wersbetelle. In addition became a “refactaire” (a resistance fighter).

I had been home (Bastogne) for three months (Sept-Dec 1944) when I had again escaped to save myself from the Von Rundstedt offensive. (Battle of the Bulge.)  Now, I am a victim of the war and that’s it (voila). 

Charles Collin 
16, Rue d'Arlon - Bastogne




[1] The writer uses the word parents, but his parents live in Bastogne and are butchers.  I believe he meant relatives.
[2] In another version, he wrote that he only stayed two days at his Uncle William’s. It was dangerous to stay with a close relative. Taunte Marthe was actually Albert’s second cousin, a distant enough relative where he’d be safer.