Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-31
A YOUNG NAN KILLED.
Accidental Discharge OF a Gun. Causing the
Death or Robert Gentry.

At the woodward No. 525 west Broad
street, about 2:lj Yesterday afternoon.
Robert Gentry was accidentally killed by
the discharge OF a gun in the hands OF
Charles T. Saunders. Gentry was twenty
two wears Of age and unmarried, and lived
with his mother, at the corner OF Monroe
street aud Brook avenue.
Saunders is nineteen. He " the son OF
Dir. Henry Saunders. OF Ashland, hut lVed
in this city. at No. 3lS Brook ayenue, ana
was employed as clerk at the woodward,
which - owned by his father. Gentry was
at one time a street-car driver. but was re-
Gently given woIk by young saunders az
the woodward. The two were good friends.
The testimony taken at the Coroner's IN
quest last night showed that there had been
no unkind word between them.
The gun with which the unhappy aeci-
dent occurred was n single-barrelled big
bore breech-loader. II was probably an
old smOoth-bOre army mu,ket altered. IL
was brought 10 the office Of the woodward
bv George Lewis. a eolored man, who IL
one Of Mr.. Saunders's drivers. Lewis
"held il in pawn" for some money or
other article advanced one Of his friends.
Young Saunders was arrested and carried
10 the Third police station, and there the
Coroner held the inquest. having first
sworn in the Jury at the house OF the de-
ceased, 10 which place the body had been
carried. The Jurors were as follows :
Messrs. william :. Davis, X. +. Jordan, K.
:, GlaZebrOOk, Thomas NJ. Jones, :. q.
Fairbanks, and simon Stern. Before them
George Lewis, Mr.. Cottrell, and
Young Saunders were eXamised as
witnesses. From their statements II
appears that Saunders and Gentry (who
was sometimes called Warren Douglas)
got into a friendly dispute with George
Lewis about the gun. They said it was OF
no account. George said that be knew II
was good gun. At last Mr.. Gottrell pro-
posed that they should take the gun INTO
the yard and shoot at mark. George gave
Saunders q cartridge, which he slipped into
the gun and billet was blaekened 10 set
up az a mark. Saunders took the gun In
his hands, but remarked that the yard was
in the city limits; that he was not going to
fire II, but that il anybody else chose to
take the responsibility and fire il he
might 10 do so. While handling the gun
which he had placed at balf-cock, went
of. Gentry was 80 close that George de-
scribed him as " looking right in the muZzle
OF the gum"
saunders Salu tnat ne was aware tndl
Gentry was there, but did not see him al
the moment.
From all accounts he could not have beer
five feet from Saunders, and the whole ioae
OF shot entered at the left corner OF Gentry
mouth. killing him instantly. Saunder:
said positively that there was not wert
OF truth in the statement that they bad beeI
drinking; they had not.
While Saunders was being examined by
the Coroner, Captain Epps called the atten
tiOn Of the Coroner 10 the fact that th'
hammer Of the gun in question could b.
easily pushed down from half-cock
! There was no need TO finger the trigger
! an accidental touch on the hammer would
make it fall down from hslf-c0ck.
Saunders declared that he did not hav'
| his hand upon the trigger when the dis
charge tsok place. lie knew that Gentr.
was there, but did not see him in the diree
! ten Of the gun.
! The jury rendered verdict that III
shooting wa. accidental. Saunders. VII
was under arrest, was bailed in $500 b
Justice Isbell for his appearance for exam
nation by the Police Justice.
Justice Isbell could not discharge hin
or would doubtless have done so, as he 81
/ there and heard all the evidence.
Young Saunders is suffering great dis
tress OF mind. lie is bright-cheeked AM
/ good-ieatured young man, and Is large ant
! ntsly.