Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-10
A DREADFUL DISASTER.
JOhnnIe Gordon Wheeler Killed by
the Accidental Discharge OF n Revolt
Yer Ie Was Playing win.

JOHNNIE Gordon wheeler Killed By
the Accidental Discharge OF a Kevoi'
Yer He Was Playing win.
AT $50 yesterday afternoon Coroner
Halves was summoned to Sinnet's addi'
ton to hold an inquest on the body OF
Johnnie Gordon Wheeler, aged thirteen,
who a short time before had been killed
by the accidental discharge of a revolver
he and his companions-Guttfre and
John Nordgren and Leslie Burch-had
been playing with in Nordgren's barn.
The coroner summoned jury composed
of J. p, Bledsoe, (oreman); j. G. Cum
minis, l.. V. Eckhart, John Wichman
Geo. Bedsoe and James McCann, and
proceeded with the inquest. The testi
mony of Mrs. Laura L ClendenIn, DR..
Gordon and the three boys named was
taken, and it was developed in evidence
that Burch had brought the revolver-a
fine 30 calibre frearm--to the place
where the boys were playing, with view
of trading it to John Nordgren. The
transaction was made, and four cart
ridges which were in the revolver when
il was brought there, were removed, but
it seems they were afterward replaced by
the purchaser of the revolver without the
knowledge of the other boys. The re
vOlver was then laid on "A bench with the
muZZle pointing ont. The boys were ell
gagged in playing with some tools about
bench and was leaning over it handling
some of the TOOLS and the next known
was the report. At the same instant
Wheeler rushed from the barn in
the direction of the house, without |
however uttcrng sound, and
fell fainting in the yard. He was
carried into the house where he soon
after expired. The ball had penetrated
the left lung causing almost immediate
death. All knowledge of the actual
cause of the accident will probably be
buried with the poor boy. 1t was shown
that the revolver was cooked, and the
is that Wheeler struck the
was handling. Drs. Gordon and Dunn,
Of Moline, were summoned but could do
nothiT & to save the victim of the terrible
Usually. The verdict of the jury was
hat the deceased came to his death by
pistol shot of 80 calibre revolver acc,
lentally discharged while playing"
The boy was a son of widow, Mrs
Haroni Wheeler, residing on Thirty ninth
treet, ana nephew of DIR. Gordon, of
Rock Island.
Sad and indeed dreadful as the little fell
owls death is, there m ght be some con,
olaton derived from it, if it would only
erve as a warning to parents, not only
o be extraordinary cautious to see that
heir children do not have revolvers. but
OF to have the dangerous weapons any
there within their reach. A child will
ct hold of a revolver when least expect
Il, and the result is always likely to be
alamity such as that of yesterday.
The boys in the neighborhood of the
ccident. it has been since revealed, have
cen for some time in the habit of carry
~ revolVers, and shooting along the
yer bank, and Leslie Burch, who car.
ed the fatal weapon to the scene of yes
rday's tragedy, had his hand badly in
lrcd by the Academia: discharge of a
volver some time ago. The police
lould see that the dangerous practice is
opped. by searching every boy they
Get, if the boys are not otherwise COM
,llcd TO stop carrying reYolvers.