The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-22
A FOOLS FREAK.
The Criminally Careless Use of a Pistol Re-
suits in the Instant Death of an Estimable
Young Lady ut Brooklyn, N. Y.


Young Lady ut Brooklyn, N. Y.
NEW YORK, March II.
A sad accident occurred yesterday after
noon which resulted fatally for Celia
Renney, young lady seventeen years OF
age, residing with hes Pc rents at Ne,-454
Prospect avenue, South Brooklyn. Miss
Renney, who was an intimate friend OF
the family of John Cassidy, residing al
No. 476 Sixth avenue, called there shortly
after noon to make brief visit
While she was engaged in converse
ton with one of the little children,
Dennis Riley, thirty years of age, OF
No. 25l Fifteenth street, South
Brooklyn, entered the house. He was ac-
quainted with Mr.. Cassidy and also with
the young lady visitor. An hour was
spent in social manner, when Riley iok-
ingly asked those present if they bad ever
been mesmerized. "No; are you mes
merist?" asked Miss Cassidy, daughter of
the host. eyes," returned Riley, "I'm
mesmerist. Shall get you under the in
fluence?" The young people thought it
would be decidedly amusing, and they
told him to try it upon Miss
Cassidy first. Riley began laughing,
and after making few comical
gestures as if i'll preparation, he drew
from his hip pocket four-chambered re-
volver of heavy pattern, carrying a thirty.
two-cali1re bullet. when the young
ladies saw the revolver they became some
what frightened. and asked Riley to put
1t away ''No, said that | was going to
mesmerize you BOTH" he replied as he
continued TO laugh at their exhibition of
terror Miss Cassidy ran across the
room, and as she stepped behind chair
she remarked that she "didn't like that
kind of seight of hand performance"
Riley pointed the revolver at her, and the
young lady stopped behind the back of
the chair. This created not little
amusement in the house, Riley entering
into it with much zeal, for he
BELIEVED THE WEAPON WAS UELoADED.
Miss Cassidy having been forced to seek
place of safety, Riley turned to Miss
Renney and said that it was her turn to
| be put under the influence of the magic
touch. Everybody began to laugh as the
young lady attempted to run into the adj
| Joining room Riley then cooked the
weapon, and, pointing it at her head,
pulled the trigger. A report rang out in
the room, and Miss Renney fell to the
| floor with bullet in her forehead. The
shock to everybody present was so great
that for moment they stood unable to
move or speak. Then the revolver dropped
from Riey's hand and he exclaimed:
"My God, what have l done!" He
rushed to the PHOSPHATE form of the
young lady, and when he saw the blood
trickling over her cheek, his strength
failed him and he gave vent to expressions
of deep grief. A physician was hurriedly
summoned, but his services were unnec-
cessary for death had been instantaneous.
The police of the Fifth Avenue Precinct
were notified, and two officers were sent
at once to arrest Riley. On their arrival
he was found weeping, and he willingly
accompanied them to the station. Riley
informed the Sergeant that the shooting
was the result of an accident. He be-
lieved all the chambers of the weapon
were unloaded. He stated that Miss
Renney was one of his particular friends,
and with fearful eyes said that he had
paid her attentions for some time. The
four chambers of the revolver were
empty when it was secured by the police.