The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-01
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
A Student at the Military Academy In
stantly Killed by an Accidental Pistol
Shot,

A Student at the Military Academy In
stantly Killed by an Accidental Pistol
Shot.
On Saturday evening last, il fatal ac-
cident occurred at the Staunton Military
Academy which caused the instant death
OF A. X. Hathaway, of Dennison, Texas.
1t appears from the evidence taken at
the Coroner's inquest, held on Saturday
evening, DIR. Geo. s. Walker, Coroner,
presiding. that young Hathaway, aged
Is, and James w. Whitworth, from Sui
phur Springs, Texas. aged II, were
romping and playing, and that young
Whitworth went to his room and took
from under his bed Colts revolver.
This he snapped at Hathaway number
of times while they were romping with
each other, not suspecting that one OF
the barrels was loaded. Finally all ex-
plosion was heard and Hathaway fell to
the floor, the ball having entered the
right cheek and come out back of the
left ear. killing him instantly. The
pistol was SO close to the face of the
deceased that the skin was blackened
from the burnt powder.
After hearing the evidence of several
students and of DR.. j. st. p. Gibson.
| who examined the wounds, as well az
Capt. Terry, the teacher in charge of
the floor where the accident occurred,
the following verdict was rendered:
We, the undersigned jurors summoned to hold
an inquest upon view OF the body OF A. X.
Hathaway In the city of Stanton, there lying
dead; upon our Q .ths do say, that the saba. r.
fired from pistol held i'll the hands or James
w. Whitworth, and we do further say, from The
ly accidental
[signed,l Geo. s; Walker, Coroner J;W Splitter,
E. W. Stewart, J. M. johnson, John b. Hoge, w.
NJ. Eakle Thos. A. Dawson.
1t appeared from the evidence that
the two boys were on friendly terms:
that no cause of trouble or ill-feeIing
between them was known to exist, and
that both were laughing while the play
was going on. 1t was further in evil
| dence that fire earns are vigorously pro-
hibited in the school, and when such
are in possession of students, as in this
case, it is unknown to the principal and
in violation of the rules of the school.
The body of young Hathaway was
taken to Wayne Station, ILL.,, on Sunday
morning for interment, w. w. Gibbs
Esq, business manager of the Academy,
! accompanying it, and where the father
of the deceased was to meet it. 1t is at
Wayne Station that the family burying
ground of Mrs. Hathaway is located.
The mother of young Whitworth had
arrived in Staunton few days before
the accident, and had just received a
telegram from Dennison to return at
once, bringing her son with her, as the
husband and father was in critical
condition.
The fatal shooting was a sad affair,
and caused deep gloom to prevail at tie
Academy, where what was expected to
be merry Christmas season, was so
suddenly turned into scene of sadness
and mourning.
Call on Wheat & Summerson and buy
your Christmas stock for mince pies,
plum pudding.
Hacking coughs beat a hasty retreat
when A. B. C. Tonic and Expectorant
are used.
Most select and the largest stock of
Christmas specialties ever offered in
Staunton at Wheat & Summerson's.
Mr.. Henry H. Lang, the enterprising
| hn Ho III
dating gentleman, returned to his place
of business last week after serious spell
of sickness that had continued through
about one month.
A man named G.. G. Thompson, work
ing at Basic City as carpenter or other
mechanic. was found dead at or near that
place last Saturday upon the back of the
horse upon which he had ridden away.
The horse came home with his body.
/ The deceased came from Richmond, and
his remains were sent there for interment
The two express companies having Of
fees at Staunton. the Adams and the
United States, handled great quantity
of express matter during last week. The
aggregate quantity was equal to if not
greater than the quantity handled at
any previous Christmas.
A series of sermons upon the Bible is
being preached on Sunday evenings by
Rev. J. Il. Williams, pastor of the Meth
odist church. Last Sunday his subject
was the external evidences of God s
Word. Next Sunday he will preach upon
the internal evidences.
Mr.. Samuel B. Adams, president Of the
City Street Car Company, arrived in
Staunton last Saturday from his home
in Little Rock. Arkansas. He left Sun
day for New York, returned to Staunton
Tuesday, and was to leave yesterday or
to-day to return to Little Rock. He was
here for some time last summer, during
the construction of the street car lines.
The public schools of Augusta county,
taught by about 900 teachers under the
superintendent of Mr.. E. O. Peale,
county superintendent, are progressing
very satisfactorily this winter. Attend
ance and interest are good. Very little
interruption from sickness has been ex
perienced SO far Many schools were
closed for one or two days at the time of
the deepest snow. Teachers and pupils
are now about ready return to their
school work, after Christmas vacation
of a week or ten days.
Robert A. Brubeck, who was printer
in the VIRGINIAN Office for several years
previous to his departure from Staunton
about the year 1886, arrived in the city
Monday, and will remain here for about
ten days. Since leaving Staunton he
has been located in New London, Con-
necticut, a prosperous manufacturing
and commercial city on the shores of
Long Island Sound. He is private secre-
tary for the master of transportation of
the New London s. Northern railroad,
and also conducts the New London bus
mess college. He was one of the most
efficient accountants graduated from
Dunsmore's business college in it's earlier
years.
r. C. Anderson was in Staunton on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last
week visiting at the residence of his
father law, e. NJ. Cushing. His wife