The morning call., 1892-02-10
1T WAS FATAL FUN.
Sad Outcome of Two Boys Play.
ing Highwayman.
Joseph Riley Accidentally Sends Bullet Into
the Brain CT Ernest Cook, His
Companion.

Ernest Cook and Joseph Riley, two
small boys, undertook to play highwayman
in room at u Welsh street shortly after )
o'clock last evening
So realistic was the performance that
little Ernest now occupies cot at the Re-
ceiying Hospital with a bullet in his brain,
and Riley is locked up at the Southern Sta
ton charged with assault to murder.
The prospects are that the Cook boy, who
is not quite 10 years old, will die The
bullet is from D. caliber rifle and was fired
at short range. 1t entered above the right
eye and buried itself deep in the brain.
Police Surgeon Somers and DR.. Berry
pr0bed for the bullet and succeeded in ex-
tracing a small piece of the lead A drain
age tube was placed in the wound but there
is little or no hope for the boy.
LOTS OF FUN.
Both boys were having fun with deadly
weapons, Riley with his rifle and Cook with
a powder-and- ball pistol. Riley is Is years
old, and received the gun on his last birth
day. which was in November. His mother
forbade him 10 use the gun, and kept ii con-
cealed in their home, Is Welsh street Mon
day morning Joseph told his mother to let
him take The gun away and get it fixed, as
he had chance 10 sell it.
She gave him The gun, and he took it
away. Last evening be was returning with
the weapon when Mrs. Tewkesberry, who
lives next door called the lad in TO show
him an electric bell arrangement on the back
door 10 herald the ingresS and egress OF her
dog. Whenever the dog pushed the door a
bell rang, and Mrs. Tewkesberry knew that
the dog was moving about.
While Joseph was observing the workings
Of this dog alarm, Ernest Cook looked in
and saw him there with his gun. Ernest
then ran IN to his own home at Welsh
street and got his pistol. Coming back he
pushed the door open, presented the pistol
al Riley and said:
Lets play higdwayman."
THROW Up YOUR HANDS"
With that Ernest jumped hack and hid
himself behind the corner Of the house.
Riley stepped TO the door and pointed his
gun at the hjghwayman who was peerng
around the corner. Ernest then dIssp-
peaTed, and Riley went back into the house.
a moment later Ernest came back, and,
thrusting his pistol through the door, shouted
for Riley to throw up his hands.
LAS Ernest ordered me to throw up my
hands," said Riley, "he showed the door
back and ii struck the muZzle Of the rifle.
The gun was lying In the hollow of my
arm, and the jar must have caused me to
pull the trigger There was a report, Ern-
est uIOppeu Tue pioJOls CidSpeu his NanuS 10
his head and staggered out into the yard.
ran to help him, and we went together to a
drugstore, where they tied his head up and
sent him to the hospital. Then policeman
took me to Jail"
DID NOT KNOW IT WAS LOADED.
Young Riley was much distressed over
the accident and wept continually. He
says he did not know the rifle was loaded,
but does not seem 10 find much consolation
in this assertion.
The boys were playmates for years and
had always been good friends. Ernest at
tended the LOngfellow School on Harrison
street, but Riley finished his course at the
Sacred Heart Academy two years ago, and
has since been employed in a commercial
agency on SaDsOme street
At the hospi'a Ernest showed great for
titude, and told the doctors how the acct
dent happened while they were probing for
the bullet His widowed mother arrived
soon after and took up her station at the
bedside Of the little sufferer.
Mrs Riley also FASTENED to the hospital
to inquire after the injured boy, without
stopping to look after her own sou in Jail.