I, J. Wathen, manager of this memorial, am the great-grandniece of Clarence. His half-sister, Ella Bertha (Magers) Roberts, was my great-grandmother.

Albany Democrat, Albany, Oregon, Thursday, 28 June, 1923, page 3, column 7:

ENGINE'S WHEELS GRIND LIFE OUT OF S. P. SWITCHMAN

C. E. Magers Victim of Fatal Accident Today--Left Leg, Right Foot, and Left Arm Are Severed.

CORONER'S JURY ACTS

Inquest Is Held This Afternoon -- Widow and Two Young Daughters Mourn -- No Blame Is Placed.

C. E. Magers, switchman and former brakeman, employed on the Southern Pacific railway, and a resident of Albany for five years, was fatally injured at 9:50 o'clock this morning in the local railway yards near the oil tanks in the western end of the yard. Magers jumped from the rear of a group of four cars that were being switched and stepped directly in the path of a freight engine, which passed over his body.

The action of the engine cut Magers' left leg from the body at the hip; cut off the left arm at the elbow, and severed the right foot near the ankle. The accident victim was rendered unconscious by the shock and a blow on the head that inflicted a deep scalp wound. He died within half an hour after the accident, and within 15 minutes after being rushed to St. Mary's hospital.

District Attorney Lewelling and Coroner Fisher were summoned with Dr. J. H. Robnett to examine the body and circumstances immediately after the accident.

At the request of Mrs. Magers a coroner's inquest was held at the Fisher-Braden store at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

At the inquest the following constituted the coroner's jury: E. M. Reagan, Ed. Washburn, Edwin Fortmiller, W. W. Crawford, Dan Lawrence and Claude Bray.

The first witness called was G. S. Cheever, who, with a brakeman on the freight engine, are the only known eye-witnesses of the accident.

Cheever testified that in his capacity as a member of the switching crew he was riding on an oil car near the switch engine. He said that the switch engine, proceeding backwards, was hauling four cars from a spur onto one of the main tracks, when Magers stepped off the rear car presumably to throw the switch, which had just been passed. He did not know why Magers should have stepped onto the next track.

The switch train was proceeding west, said Cheever. On the next truck was a freight engine which had been detached from its northbound train and which at the time was proceeding in the same direction as was the switch engine, the witness continued. Both were going lowly, he stated. Magers, he said, evidently did not hear the freight engine, nor did he hear Cheever's warning cry.

A brakeman who was riding on the freight engine was not present at the inquest. C. R. Nokes was called to testify as to names of the switching crew and add details.

Mr. Magers was born April 11, 1879 in Cloud county, Kansas. He had been connected with railroad work intermittently during his life, and had been employed steadily by the Southern Pacific for five years since coming to Albany from St. Paul, Minnesota. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Mabel and Ethel. Mrs. Magers is employed by the Hamilton store. He was a member of the Elks' Woodmen of the World, and Foresters lodges. The funeral will be held Monday. Further arrangements will be announced tomorrow morning.

Late this afternoon the coroner's jury adjourned until Wednesday, when the inquest will be continued. This was done in order that the crew of the freight train may be here to testify.

Albany Democrat, Albany, Oregon, Thursday, 5 July, 1923, page 5, column 3:

INQUEST OVER DEATH OF S. P. MAN IS FINISHED

Resumption of the inquest over the death of A. C. [newspapers error] Magers, Southern Pacific employee, last Saturday took place yesterday in the W. O. W. hall. The hearing was continued from Saturday in order that the jury might hear the testimony of C. A. Reibel, engineer; F. B. Canon, fireman, and E. A. Leachman, brakeman, on the freight train of which the engine caused Mr. Magers' death; A. H. Shortes, engineer on the switch engine; E. C. Haley, and L. G. Main. The jury was composed of E. M. Reagan, W. W. Crawford, Edwin Fortmiller, Dan Lawrence and Claude Bray. The inquest was conducted by District Attorney L. G. Lewelling.

The jury came to the conclusion late yesterday afternoon that Mr. Magers met death by accidentally stepping in front of the engine of freight train No. 222 on the main line of the Southern Pacific Saturday morning. There was no evidence of criminal negligence.