The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-21
ACCIDENTAL HOMICIDE.
John Plat Dies Three Minutes
After Being Shot
BY A FIFTEEN-YEAR-oLD BOY,
James Mullarkey and Several Com
panlous Go Cunning on Sunday.
The Sad Ending of a Days
sport-The Lad In jail,

Yesterday evening John Plat, aged
10, was shot and instantly killed by
James Mullarkey, aged 10, short dis
lance up Ualdwell's Run, MUllarkey
says the shooting was accidental, and
no one has been found who positively
contradiCIs his statement,
Early in the afternoon, James Null
larkey, Mike Gallagher, William Jeunke,
Ell Marling and Fred Eteliug,qll between
fifteen and sixteen years old, went out
the right hand road up Caldwells run,
to shoot birds. About the same time,
John Plat and James veirnum went
out the other road with horse and
wagon to gather walnuls, The first
named party had with them wotwenty-
two calibre rifles OF cheap pattern, They
spent the afternoon In shooting birds
and at a target, returning about half
past five. At the forks OF the road near
the toll gate, the two parties met, on
their way home.
At this this pointthe gun, which Null
larkey held, was discharged, and TIE
ball took effect In platts head lust
back OF the right ear, causing him to
expire In three minutes. Just how this
occurred Is known to none but mullar.
key, who states that IT was by accident,
platt's horse started 10 run, but Mullar.
key caught and held him till the dead
boy was taken from the wagon and car.
ried to his fathers home on the hillside,
Oh the lower side OF TWenty.ninth street,
east Of McCellOch.
Chief Of Police Delbrugge aud Coroner
schultze were notified at once, and both
started for the scene under the impress
sion that a murder had been committed.
Officers Speidel and PretLyman, who had
been called by the Chiel, went to Mul
larkey's home on McColloCh street, be.
low Twenty ninth, where they
found him expecting them. he was
taken before tho Coroner, who being
unable to hold IN inquest, ordered him
taken TO the county Jail to spend the
night and await the result OF an inquest
to be held at 10 o'clock this morning.
Young Mullarkey was seen In Jail last
night. He was in rather low spirits and
had been told by someone not to talk
about the matter. He finally stated
that he was standing with the gun in
his hand, holding 1t by the barrel ;thatthe
hammer was drawn, and that by some
means, which he could not describe, the
trigger was touched by his clothing, and
the load discharged. He said he and
Plat were good friends, aud that they
had had no words or quarrel. He was
very much grieyed on account Of the
occurrence and said he would not
have had 1t happen for the world.
Mullarkoy Is bright boy who Is well
spoken OF by his acquaintances, aud has
been employed in the Bon Ton store on
Main street. Plat Is q son Of William
Plat, Waterman at the Riverside Iron
works. Hs has been employed driving
q cart about town.
Coroner SChultze summoned the fol.
lowing witnesses to appear at the in.
quest this morning: Mike Gallagher,
William Jeunke, Ed. Marling, Fred
Ebeling, Thomas Murray, James Vel.
mum and William Moore.
Several stories as 10 how the accident
occurred were circulated last night, but
none OF them are borne out by the facts
as obtainable.