The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-03
\ SAD DEATH.
A BOY ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS HIS
BROTHER.
Another Warning Against the Careless
Use os Fire Arms.

Two children of Benjamin Wallace, VIII"
lives AT Knight Corner, about midway 1T
tween Elkton and Chesapeake City, aged
respectively about twelve and fifteen years,
We're left alone On Thursday last their
mother being absent visiting her sick
mother, and their father being III his daily
labor. In the house WAS an old Singlc-bar
rel gun which had been loaded ST. long that
Mr.. Wallace does not remember the time
and which the two lads supposed not To be
loaded at all. About o'clock i'll the after
noon, Mr.. W. H. EhoadeS who resides near
the corner and was working near the resi-
dencc OF Mr. Wallace. heard the report of Il
gun. immediately after which the eldest boy
asked him to remain ut the house with his
brother till he went for his mother. for
whom he Immediately started without tell
ing Mr.. Ehoadcs about the accident. Upon
entering the house Mr. X. found the other
boy in dying condition. He found after
making an examination that the lad had
been shot III the abdomen. the whole load
entering his left side making Il wound that
Wallace. of Chesapeake City, was summon
ed To attend the dying boy, but the vital
spark had fled from his wounded and pros
tratrd body before the doctor arrived N the
scene of the accident.
,ieorgr X. Carpenter, of Chesapeake City,
by direction of Justice Christicld, OF the
same place who acted us coroner, summon
ed jury OF inquest, who examined til" sur
Niving brother rs to his knowledge of the
accident and the causes that led 10 it.
He seemed to he in much trouble and his
grief excited the pity Of the jurors and
everybody else who witnessed il. He testi-
fled that he and Iii, brother We're playing
with the gun. which was an old, rusty
Singlt-harlrl, and then came the ''old, old
story" that has been repeated ever since
viilainou> S:itpctrc has been diggcd from
he earth and used in gun barrels for the
destruction Of human litt.-''hc tlida' I know
il was loadrd''-and that white he had hold
Of the butt Of the stock and his brother had
hold "t the muzzlt. it went off and the life of
his brother went out.
MIR. RhoadeS testified that hc WAS work
ing in his corntirld near tn" scene ni the
accident and that he heard thu. report nf the
gun. and that presently the elder hoy askc,
hm to remain with his brother while he
Went for his mother: that upon entering the
house he found III" Younger boy in diving
condition.
Mr.. Wallace testified that lie had an indiS-
tnct recollection Of loading the gun some
months before. but had almost forgotten the
fact
Whcr'llp"n the Jury rendered the follow
ing verdict: That the deceased rane to
his death from the accidental discharge of Il
shot gun in the hands of his brother
The parents Of the deceased child are
almost hcarthrokrn by the loss they have
sustained and have the sympathy If the
community in vi ich they live. The tIlna-
r:,l of the unfortunate youth took place on
Wednesday afternoon. his remains being
followed To their last resting place iii Bethel
cemetery hy Il large rancnuSc ot his relatives
and friends.
SO ends another chapter On the careless
handling of firearms.