The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-05-20
Horrible TRAGEDY.

horrible tragedy occurred at the United
States Arsenal, yesterday morning. Walter
Richardson, lad aged about fourteen years, a
son of Mr. John H. Richardson, a clerk in the
Arsenal, was mortaliy wounded by sho. fired
from masket, in the hands of his step-mother
under the following circumstances The boy
WIS very obstinate and hard to govern, causing
great trouble to his parents, particularly to his
step-mother. Owing to this fact his father told
the mother that he would load a musket with
powder, and that she might frighten the boy
with 1t if he refused to obey her. The father
loaded the musket with powder, and told her
where he had placed it, but subsequently, with
the intention of shooting dog, he placed in the
musket an additional heavy charge Of quail shot,
forgetting at the same time to inform Mrs. R. of
the change In the condition of the gun. On
Thursday evening, disagreement occurred be-
tween the mother and lad, during which, the
boy threw sharp piece of coal at his step moth
er which cut her cheek badly; she then put him
out of doors. Mrs. Richardson was very much
enraged at him when she put him out, and made
a threatening expression to him. He did not
return to the house until yesterday morning
and when she saw him approaching, she took
the musket, and with the intention of intimida-
ting him. snapped the gun, which did not go off,
as it was not capped. She went into the house,
got cap, and returned, when she rested the gun
aver fence and fred. The lad dropped to the
ground, and when Mrs. Richardson seen this,
she dropped the gun and screamed for help, and
ran to the boy. His sister came out, and to-
gether they carried the lad into the house. when
they applied restoratives TO him, but without
any effect. Doctor Shields was sent for, but the
boy was too far gone, and died about 20 minutes
after the Doctors arrival
The shot took effect in the bowels and left side
and one hundred and thirty seves shots entered
the body. There were many wounds in the
thigh: The two shots which were the iInmedi-
ate cause of his death. pierced the left external
illeac artery, from which he bled to death
Twenty-four shots were extracted from his bow
els. and the hip and thigh were mangled in a
horrible manner
At twelve o'clock Mr.. Coroner Arthurs was
called upon to hold an inquest, and DR.. Shields
held post mortem examination of the body
After the examination of the father of the lad,
his two sisters, and the doctor, who were the
''that the said Walter Richardson came to his |
death from the effects of gun shot wound and
that the shot was fired by Hester Richardson his |
step-mother"
Mrs. Richardson was committed to prison by
Coroner Arthurs for further hearing
The above statement is CLEANED from the evil |
dence before the jury and will be found correct.
The affair resulted from misunderstanding, |
but at the same time great blame is attached to
the parties concerned in the lamentable tragedy. |
We refrain from publishing anything not strict
ly connected with the matter, for the reason that
it will undergo a judicial examination, and any
thing calculated to prejudice the mind of the |
public would be uncalled for and wrong.-Pius !
Past Nm, St6