The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-16
THE USUAL TALE.
Didn't Know it Was Loaded
Kills a Boy.

Another death has been added to the
ever growing number caused by the
careless handling of fire arms which
were not supposed to be loaded. Last
evening an accident of this nature, re-
sulting in tho death of eleyen.year-old
Fred. Lewis, colored boy, occurred at
the residence Of Miss Jennie Duncan on
Twelfth avenue n. O., near the dis.
tillerY.
Two white boys, Herbert and Russell
Kerlin, aged 10 ana 10 years respect
lively, were playing in the yard with
Lewis yesterday afternoon at $50
o'clock. After they had been playing
for about two hours Lewis began talk.
ing about guns and pistols and expressed
wish to see Mr.. Kerlin's shotgun
The three lads then went upstairs,
Herbert Kerlin going for the gun into
the portion OF the house rented by his
father from Miss Duncan, while tho
other boys waited on the staircase.
After Herbert had brought the gun the
boys examined it. Then the younger
Kerlin and Lewis s'arted to go down
stairs, Herbert calling after them TO
wait for him. AS he turned to replace
the gun the weapon was discharged
into tho middle of Lewis breast, very
near the heart. One stray shot pene-
trated Russell's foot. Lewis in some
manner staggered out OF the back door
and fell dead beside barrel few feet
away from the door. The gun was
double barreled breech. loading shot
gun, one hammer OF which was broken.
Acting Coroner Wilbur S. Pole at
once summoned a jury consisting of
Messrs. l.. I'll. Brugh, foreman; w. w.
Workman. A. L Burks, o. d. Derr, T.
f. Jamison and j E. Hough. The jury
met last night at the scene OF the
shooting and heard tho testimony Of
the Kerlin boys, together with that of
some other persons who were in the
vicinity at the time OF tho unfortunate
occurrence. Both tho Kerlin boys are
very bright lads and gave their account
of the affair in a straightforward and
self possessed manner. Mrs. Kerlin was
what the boys were about until she
heard the report Of the gun.
Miss Duncan, who lives in the eastern
part of tho house, upon hearing the
sound OF the gun, looked out Of the hall
door and saw the colored boy running
down the porch steps. She did not see
the other boys and wastoo frightened to
look up stairs.
Nat Logan, colored, was coming across
the yard when he saw Lewis run out of
the door and fall dead beside barrel.
The verdict of the coroners jury was
that Lewis came to his death by the
accidental discharge of gun in the
hands OF Herbert Ierlin.
The boys father, Mr.. John L. Kerlin,
is employed at Jamison & Pfillamans
distillery.
Mr.. Thomas B. Claiborne. ex. Judge OF
the Franklin county court, and now
employed as storekeeper at the dis.
tillery, stated that the Kerlin boys
were both quiet and peaceab.e lads
He has seen them almost daily during
the last year and never saw them
quarrel with their playma.es.
The body of Fred Lewis was seen by
TIMES reporter last night at the hous 6
of Joseph Pointdexter, on ynchburg
avenue W., where the boys mother has
been living. The mother was staying
with her sister q few rods away, and
was loudly lamenting her loss. After
the return Of the coroner's viriict the
Kerlin boys were released.