Lake County Times, Hammond, Ind., Thursday March 8, 1917, page 1--LOSES LIFE IN BURNING CAR-- Jerry Moffitt (sic) of Owasso, Mich., Dies of Suffocation in Yards.--- J.A. Curry, a car inspector, today discovered in an empty refrigerator car at Osborne, Ind., the body of a man identified by a Moose lodge card as Jerry Moffitt (sic) of Owosso, Mich. It is believed the man died during the night of suffocation from a fire he had built in the center of the car. The fire would have destroyed the car had it not been extinguished by a railroader who saw the flames and put them out with a bucket of water but did not discover Moffitt (sic) who was no doubt in the car at the time. Covered by an overcoat which he had evidently used as a blanket to protect him from the cold, the remains of the man were still warm when found today. There were no marks of violence. The age of the man appeared to be about thirty-five years and he was fairly well dressed although without money or jewelry. R.E. Collier, agent for the Nickel Plate at Osborne notified the police who called the coroner's office. The remains were taken to the Burns morgue.
OBIT-- OIL CITY DERRICK- March 16, 1917-p. 9, Jerry Moffatt, HAMMOND, Ind. March 16, (special) Jerry Moffatt of Oil City, Pa., who was employed by the E.J. & E, . R.R. died at Hammond Ind. Tuesday morning, March 6, and was buried Monday morning at 11 o'clock at Mount Calvary cemetery, Gary Ind. The switchmen which met his brother, John Moffatt, from Oil City, had charge of the remains. Sixty five members of the switchmen's union marched in a body to the cemetery. The deceased is survived by one sister, Mrs. Margaret Walsh, and two brothers, John and Raymond Moffatt all of Oil City.
