The Waterloo Times
Friday, October 15, 1915

Mrs. Louden Loses Circuit Court Case

A jury in the Circuit Court at Belleville Friday held that Walter S. Louden was 
responsible for his own death on the night of February 7, 1914, when he was 
struck by a freight train near the East St. Louis relay depot.  His widow sued 
the Terminal Railway Association of St. Louis for $10,000.

Louden, who was Internal Revenue Collector for the East St. Louis District, 
stepped from a passenger train and started across the tracks.  According to 
testimony, he did not heed cries of warning.  The defense was that Louden was 
a trespasser on the railroad property.

The case was heard by Judge W.B. Bright of Effingham, Ill., in place of Judge 
Crow, who had disqualified himself because of the business relationship with 
Louden.

It is said the case will be appealed.