Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-01
Sad Case Of Accidental Shooting.

4
One of those sad instances Of the de-
plorable consequences resulting from the
careless handling of firearms, which
ever and anon arouse the sympathies Of
the public. occurred in this village at an
early hour Saturday morning. The cir.
cumstances of the lamentable affair, as
they have been detailed to US by those
best acquainted, are as follows Mr..
Frank Richardson, bartender at the
Stevens House, of which his brother Mr..
G. T. Richardson is proprietor, and Albert
Matthews, porter at the Bates House,
both of whom had been called out by the
police alarm of that morning, about two
o'clock entered the Office of the Bates
House. After spending nearly an hour
in company with Mr.. Palmer, bartender
of the Bates House, In smoking
and storytelling, in the course OF
which Mr. Richardson had related an in.
cident of his wrestling a pistol from the
hands of person who was handling it in
| SalCtOco iboabSLJ hC lUcC W tSdfC luC
hotel, when Mathews invited him to take
another cigar and stepped around the
counter to pass him one. While
behind the counter, Mr.. Matthews
took from drawer small, single barrel
ed breaoh-loading pistol, which had been
lying about the office for a number of
months and was supposed to contain no
cartridge. The lock of the weapon was
broken so that it would not remain cock
ed, and as Matthews inclined his body
against the counter, continuing the con-
hammer and allowed it to strike with
considerable force. He had often done
this before as the pistol lay about the Of
fee, without the least suspicion that it
contained cartridge, the construction
the pistol being such as to make the cart
ridge invisible when the barrel was in the
proper position for firing
As Matthews continued to snap the
hammer, thoughtlessly pointing it to.
wards bis companions in front of the
counter, Richardson stepped aside, saying
he disliked to have it pointed towards
him. At this instant the cartridge ex-
ploded and the ball entered the body of
Richardson, about three inches to the left
and n little above the navel. He at once
staggered back, ard exclaimed albert,
you have given me my death wound !'
He was assisted to seat and Dr.. Allen
and subsequently DR.. Pond called to hia
aid An examin ,tion showed that the
ball after entering at the point above
mentioned had pursued downward
course tor about three inches aud then
passed Inward where it could not be
reached by probing.
The unfortunate man wa- conveyed TO
hi rooms in Richardson's block, suffering
considerable pain. After proper medical
trea tment he WIS relieved, and has con-
timed in q comfortable condition up to a
late hour last evening While there are
strong hopes for his ultimate recovery from
the nature of the wound, it will be sever
al days before q reliable opinion can be
Dr.. Goldsmith was summoned
on Saturday afternoon As additional med
zeal counsel. Mr.. Richardson has wife
and two young children.
This sad event gives additional EN-.
ohasis to the oft-repeated warning against
he careless handling of firearms even
when it is certain they contain no charge.
The rule never to point a weapon, whether
oaded or not, at fellow being, is not too
'ure a guarantee against such a lament
.ble occurrence as has now cast shadow
,ver our community, and aroused the
of all