Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1937, October 8 - Man Killed by the Imperial Limited at Carleton Place, CPR., Carleton Place sub

Ottawa Citizen 8 October 1937 Mail Man Killed at Carleton Place by Imperial Limited. Fred Stanzel, mail courier, between the post office and the C.P.R. depot, was killed at 2.35 o'clock this morning when he was struck by the Imperial Limited proceeding west as he was preparing to put the night mail on this train.  The body was terribly mangled and death must have been instantaneous. So far as is known there were no eye-witnesses but it is surmised that Stanzel, who usually meets this train on track two, had to change his plans as the train was brought in on track one, owing to the train from Winnipeg being too late to make the crossing here.  He was shoving his mail truck across the track and the truck had just cleared the rails when the engine caught him and carried his body some 30 yards before the heavy train could be brought to a stop. Dr. A. Downing, the coroner, was at once called as were also Chief of Police Irvine and W.H. Hooper, postmaster, together with Stanton Stanzel, the victim's assistant.  They at once took charge of the body and it was removed to the Matthews and Fleming funeral home.  In the meantime Dr. Downing ordered an inquest which will be heard at 1.30 this afternoon. The train was in charge of C. Neil, conductor and J. Dolman, engineer, both of Ottawa. Mr. Stanzel is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Stanzel and was born at Stittsville 55 years ago.  For many years he conducted a cartage business here but for upwards of 20 years he has been the mail courier, meeting all trains in the discharge of his duties.  He is survived by his widow, Libby Menerva Robinson Stanzel, together with three children, Oswald, Gwendolin and John.  He also leaves two brothers, Steven Stanzel of Carleton Place and Alfred Stanzel of Lanark, and one sister, Mrs. John Johnston of Carleton Place. The funeral will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1.30 o'clock to St. James church and cemetery. Ottawa Citizen 12 October 1937 Man's death declared accidental The adjourned inquest into the death of Frederick Stanzel, mail man who met his death at the C.P.R. station here early last Friday morning was held here tonight and after hearing evidence of the railway officials. rendered the following verdict. "We, your coroner's jury, appointed to inquire into the death of Frederick Stanzel, find that he came to his death at 2.35 a.m. Oct. 8, 1937 by being struck by the locomotive of Train No. 1 when moving hand truck across tracks to platform.  We find his death accidental, no blame attached to anyone. - - Dr. A. Downing, coroner, presided, and evidence was given by T.C. Shields, night C.P.R. operator, C.Neil, conductor; J. Dolman, engineer; Charles Clifton, fireman, all from Ottawa, and Chief of Police C.R. Irvine. No one saw the fatal accident and the evidence led the jury to believe Stanzel was about to cross the track with the railway mail truck when the (train) struck him, resulting in his instant death. W.W. Pollock, Crown attorney examined the witnesses.  The C.P.R. solicitor was C.A. Scott of Ottawa.

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Updated 18 May 2021