Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1893-11-14
FATAL SHOOTING At MARSHALLTON.
william Briggs Accidentally RnIs lie Roy
Hopes, Companion, While Playing
with Triggerless Revolver.

william Briggs Accidentally Rius lie Roy
Hopes, Companion, While Playing
win TriggerIess Revolver.
stan Correspondence Evening Journal.
MARsBALLTON, Nov. IA This town
was all excitement last night. The citi
zens were grouped about discussing a
sad shooting that occurred yesterday
afternoon.
William Briggs, aged II years, shot
and almost instantly killed his compan-
ion, LIE Roy Hopes, who was about the
same age
The boys around the town have been
carrying revolvers and rifles for some
time. and it is wonderful that no other
deaths have resulted from the reckless
manner Of oischarging the weapons
Almost a runaway was caused one even
ing last week by some boys who dis
charged small cannon In the public
road.
Only yesterday at noon young Briggs
was seen carrying an ain rifle on his
shoulder The accident happened after
school was closed Several of the bows
were shooting on the school grounds
They ran out Of ammunition and pur-
chased a new supply at store. Then
six OF seven Of them went TO tent. In
which the A o u w supper was served
on Saturday night They were shooting
at mark near the Independent Cornet
Bands room.
hopes had a triggerless 81 callbre re.
vOlver. The hammer had to be held I'm
and then let 60 TO be discharged. With
this he shot several times aud then
loaned it to Briggs The latter raised
the hammer with his thumb. SAYS Elisha
Barton, Jr.. who was among the crowd.
and then turned his head around TO look
at something that attracted his attention.
In uoing 80 his thumb slipped of the
hammer, the cartridge was discharged
and the bullet entered Hoopes's breast.
about two inches TO the right Of the
heart. He was standing In front of
Briggs at the time
Hopes reeled and fell. The BOYS.
realizing that their companion had been
shot, ran away, Briggs with them.
While the boys We're shooting at the
mark. William McCullen, David Bowen.
John McCullen and Samuel Gray were
conversing in the latters shoe shop.
which is directly opposite the place
where Hopes was SHOT, about the dan.
gerous practice of the boys Gray heard
Hopes cry out "Oh oh IT, and ran over
to where the boy was struggling on the
ground. He asked Hopes where be had
been shot, but the ouly words the boy
spoke were God have mercy on my
soul May 60 TO Heaven
Gray saw that the boy WAS dying and
he and his brother. William GRAY. picked
him up and laid him on a table in the
tent Here he died in a few minutes
without having uttered word except
those stated. Hoopess father was in
formed of his sons misfortune and he
had the body taken to his home at
Kiamensi
Leroy was the only child Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Jefferson Hopes The father is
weaver In the Kamensi Wooden Mills.
Briggs is the second Oldest Of five chill.
dren Of Mr. and Mrs William Briggs. the
former heater at ;he Marshallton Iron
Works.
After the shooting, young Briggs ran
TO the back of his fathers barn and hid.
Here he was found, crying. by his uncle.
On the way to the barn he threw away
the revolver. Last night his father took
him before Magistrate Richardson The
latter held him on his own reoognizance
and placed him ia the charge OF his
father TO await the action of the core
ner's jury.
The citizens were OF the one opinion
last night regarding the use of firearms
by boys. They condemned it aud were
sorry that a death had to be caused In
their midst TO cause the parents to be
more watohful The residents also con
dsmned the storckeepers for selling the
boys ammunition.
no.
almost frantic last night. Mrs Hopes
Is an invalid and it is feared that this
shock will have considerable effect on her
condition.
The new school house, for which the
Marshallton Board Of Education asked
the last Legislature permission to build.
was begun by the contractors, A. s. Reed
& Bros, of Wilmington, last Monday.
Vulcan Lodge, No %, cleared between
$500 aud $500 on the bazaar 10 held last
week