New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-28
FATALLY SHOT BY ACCIDENT.


A SAD OCCURRENCE AT GARDEN CITY.
CARELESS USE OF A PISTOL BY LAWYER OF NEW
yoRK-A YOUNG WOMAN THE VICTIM.
IBr TELEGRAPH rRrBuSRl
GARDEN CrTY, Feb. 27.-A shocking accident
that has cast gloom over both this village and
Hampstead occurred here last night Miss
Mary Smith, daughter of John w.
Smith, of Hampstead, was accidentally shot
by Charles s. Clark. young lawyer,
living in Hampstead ana having an Office in New
York at No. 237 Broadway. Miss Smith and Mr..
Clark are both members of an amateur dramatic
company, which has been sparing to give a per-
formance OF Esmerada." at Library Hall, in
Hampstead, on March %. for charitable purposes.
The other members of this company were ladies and
gentlemen of Hempstead and Garden City. One
rehearsal had been held in Hampstead, and second
one was given last night IN this city. at the house
of Edward Shevier, who, with his wife, was TO ap-
pear the play. After the rehearsal three Of the
company from Hampstead went home in carriage,
while the Others went to the railroad station to
take the IL p. m train for Hampstead.
In this company were Miss Smith and
Mr. Clark. The station was closed, and
the night was cold the gentlemen Of
the party tired to bring the village watchman
to open the place by shouting for him. This
failing, Mr. Clark loaded a 32-calibre revolver
which he hal with bi and fired one shot into the
air. He then turned toward the party, and as he
did so the revolver was in some way discharged.
The ball took effect in Miss Smiths abdomen and
she fell to the ground. Her companions
raised her Immediately and bore her to the hotel
near by.
Medical aid was sent for from Hampstead and
Drs. Davidson and Finn.of that place, answered the
Tbau oil hat
to relieve the wounded woman, but soon
found that the wound was exceedingly
dangerous and would probably prove fatal Miss
Smiths father was sent for and arrived at bis
daughters bedside early this morning. He had
been suffering from q stroke of paralysis aud
was terribly affected by his sorrow. He
staid during the diy and was then ordered
home by DR.. Finn for fear of a recurrence of para
lysis. Two aunts of Miss Smith-Miss GardDer and
Mrs. Newman-came to her from Hampstead this
morning and remained by her side constantly. Mr..
Clark has been at the hotel nearly all day
and is nearly distracted by the sad accident. He is
q married man and has little boy. He is about
twentyeght years old and is very popular through
out the community. His sorrow excites the deepest
sympathy among all who know him. Friends Of Miss
Smith and Mr. Clark called in great numbers at the
hotel during the day to express their sympathy and
five years old, and is a general favorite with all
who know her, She has often taken part in amateur
dramatic performances and has considerable talent
in that direction She took the part of Mrs Rodgers
in " EsmeraIda" and Mr. Clark that of Dare Hardy.
Henry Palmer. Of this city, who was IN the party
at the station, gave the following account of tho
accident to THE TRIBUNE correspondent: I'VE
had finished our rehearsal and had walked
to the station. In the party were Miss Smith,
Mr.. Clark Mr.. Hammet. Mr.. Boyd and
train for Hampstead. The Misses Hayden and Mr..
Allen had gone homo to Hempstead In a carriage.
We walked up and down the platform for some time
complained Of feeling cold, and as we Thought the
village watcbman would be near and had ths
Keys ,S of t the .os ats9 t. TS,, 'SSSss& DSS1sa
frutless. Then Mr. Clark suggested that he would
load revolver that he had with him and woGld
found that be had two. cartridges, in his
pocket He put both of then into the revolver.
which was S0nce ,ro% 4sd smith sbS
into the air az an angle of about .4so.
He was about five feet from Miss Smith, with his
back to her. After firing he turned round toward
%a. asr ans dseA.rssd as he again II 'Ai
simply: Was your revolver Loaded; Mr.. Cla,k,,
and casped her hands to her waist. She bent tor
ward aud fell before we had recovered from our
consternatiOn We lifted her up and carried her 70
but seemed very weak. She afterward eI-
onerated Mr.. Clark from all blame in the
matter and said she was more sorry for him
than for herself She has carried herself through
out like a heroine. Mr.. Clark IA unable TO
explain how the revolver was discharged. Ho
thinks that as he turned toward aud lowered tho
weapon the gger caught in the lapel of his over
coat He also thinks that he was about fifteen feee
from Miss Smith at the time. The course OF tho
bail however, seems to make that Improbable"
Dr. &. G. j. Finn, who had charge OF the case.
said "Dr. Davidson and were sent for
directly, after the accident. and %d....;dis after
We found Miss Smith conscious but IL
and the nervous RrosttrailTona lon sS eonseaSbens b
and halt inches below the navel and had taken .
downward and backward course, striking
the pelvic bone and shattering IL and then
glancing inwards Without doubt 1t afterward
lodged in the pelvic cavity. We probed for a short
distance to find the course of the ball
and it's probable situation, but 1t would haxs
been dang rous TO attempt TO extract IL. We
have kept Miss Smith partly under the infiuenceof
opinm. but most of the time she has been
perfectIy conscious and rational She sank rapidly
this morning, but under change OF treatment sne
recovered consciousness and strength ana nown
resting quite comfortably. The chances are, now
ever. that the wound will prove fatal Dr. searinG.
of Hampstead. was in consultation with me today,
and Tomorrow Dr. Stmson, of New-fork, VIII oe
here"