The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-09-29

SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT TO Mr..
| WILLIAM G. HALL.-Mr. William &. Hall &C
cidentally shot and killed himself, on We'd
| nesday at his home near Abingdon. After
dinner he took his gun and went to his corn
house, at the side of the stable yard, to shoot
\ squirrels, which were destroying the corn.
| About six O'Clock he was discovered lying on
| the ground, in front of the corn house, with a
wound in his breast. His brother, Mr.. Edward
| II. Hall, who lives about mile away, was
sent for. When he arrived, finding that life
was not entirely extinct he dispatched a
messenger for DIR. William S. Richardson, Of
| Bel Air, who went at once. There were still
some slight signs of life when Dr. Richardson
| first saw the unfortunate man, after seven
O'clock but the last spark of life faded out a
few minutes after his arrival.
The cause of the accident can only be con-
jectured. Along the side of the corn house
is narrow platform, raised six or seven feet
from the ground, approached by steps from
one end. On this platform the door of the
corn house opens. The boards of the plat
form run cross-wise and some of them were
loose. 1t is believed that in closing the door,
with his cooked gun in his hand, he incautious-
ly stepped too far backwards and by the fitting
of a board was precipitated to the ground.
In falling the gun probably slipped in his
hand, turning the muzzle towards him, the
hammers struck on the edge of the platform,
discharging the weapon. When found he was
lying on his back with the gun near him.
One side of his neck was burned by the pow
der and the entire load penetrated his breast
in downward direction. The oriice being
small showed that the weapon must have
been very near his body when it was discharg-
ed. DIR. Richardson, who examined the
wound, says that the charge must have pene
trated the left lung.
Mrs. Hall heard gun fired at about half
past three o'clock and shortly afterwards
drove to Abingdon postofiice. On her way
home she was informed Of the accident. Mr..
Halls mother was in the house at the time
but was utterly unconscious of the fact that
her son was dying alone in the stable yard.
Mr.. William G. Hall was about AZ years of
age and was a son of the late Thomas w.
Hall, of Abingdon district. His wife is a.
daughter of DR.. Richard Sappington, of Balti-
more. He leaves no children. Mr.. Edward
H. Hall is his only surviving brother. His
surviving sisters are Mrs. Emory, wife Of DR..
Richard Emory, of the Manor, Baltimore
county Mrs. Mayo, wife of Major George u
Mayo, of Washington, d. c.; Miss Henrietta
H. and Miss Belle B. Hall, of this county.
The funeral will take place to morrow, Sat
urday morning, the interment at st. Mary's
Church, at II o'clock. Friends of the family
are invited to attend without further notice.
Mr.. Hall was held in the highest esteem by
his friends and neighbors He possessed
strong characteristics and was impusive but
honorable, sincere and kind. His heart was
tender as 4 womans and he was ever ready to
render efficient aid to his friends in times of
sickness and distress He dispensed the
hospitality of his home with an open hand
and his many unostentious acts of charity to
the poor of his neighborhood won their affec-
tionate regard. His sudden and untimely
death is terrible shock to the entire commun-
ity as well as to his bereaved family and
friends.