Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-15
LOCAL MELANGE.
M. F.. Brown Accidentally
Shot Near Compton.
FATAL HUNTING TR
The Cable Roads Struggle to KeeI
Going-Other News Of
Interest.

Coroner Meredith was summoned to
Lynwood, little village near Compton,
Yesterday afternoon to hold an inquest
upon the body of Millard F. Brown, a
native of Illinois, 80 years Of age, who
was killed earlier in the day by the ac-
cidental discharge of a shotgun in his
own hands.
From the testimony of the only wit
ness examined, youth named George
Biglow, it was learned that Brown had
been employed at the dairy Of the
Messrs. Sessions & Biglow for over q
year past. About 10 o'clock yesterday
morning Biglow and Brown left the dairy
to drive into Compton in two-wheeled
cart. As the young men had frequently
noticed a fl ,ck of wild ducks when driv-
ing to and from the ranch, they deter
mined upon taking a shotgun along in
the hope of bsgging some of the bride.
Both barrels of the weapon being loaded,
the elder Biglow advised Brown. who
carried the gun across his lap, to take
out the CARTRIDGES, 80 as to avoid an acci-
dent, bat the warning was disregarded,
and the youths drove off. When about
a quarter of mile south Of the paper
mill near Compton the left spring of the
cart broke, owing to q sudden jolt, and
young Biglow was thrown from his seat
to the ground. The noise caused by the
snapping of the iron spring frightened
the horse attached to the cart and caused
him to run. Brown grabbed the lines
with his left hand and the barrels of the
gun with his right as he fell backwards.
Instinctiyely he threw up his hands to
prevent himself from falling, and in so
doing the stock of the gun was struck by
one Of the spokes of the right whesl
of the vehicle. AS the wheel turned the
gun was twisted round in Browns hand
and in an instant the stock was torn off
by the wheel aud both barrels dis
charged by the pressure Of the triggers
against the shaft. Young Biglow, who
had not yet recovered from his fall,
heard the report of the gun, and looking
after the receding cart, saw Brown fall
out backwards. He then got up as
quickly rs possible and ran to the place,
and in the meantime Brown had crawled
on his hands and knees across the road
to fence, where he fell on his face. As
Biglow came up the wounded man
groaped once or twice and expired. One
charge had entered the left breast, the
shot penetrating the heart, and the other
had lodged in the abdomen.
Finding that his companion Was dead,
Biglow followed in the wake Of the rum
away horse and cart, which had by this
time disappeared from view. In the
meantime the animal had arrived at
Compton, where it was stopped. The
broken spring and the blood despatched
seat were conclusive evidence that an
accident had occurred, and the animal
was at once turned round and driven
back along the road. On meeting young
Bigiow, the story of Browns shocking
death was learned, and on the return Of
the Compton messenger atelephone mes
sage was sent to the Coroner. The body
was picked up and carried to the paper
mill, at which place the inquest was sub
sequently held.
The jury. on hearing young Biglow's
state ment of the sad affair, returned a
verdict in accordance with the facts as
stated above.