The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-14
MISS STELLA WEST KILLED.
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT WITH a Pts
Toll SHE WAS CLEANING.

She Was Alone in Her Room and II
Is Not known just How the Ac-
cident HaDpened-Her Death Fol-
lowed n Few Minutes After the
shOt-The Weapon a Present tn
Her and She Was Fond of Playing
with IL and Frightening II Up-A
Young Lady of Bright Promise and
One Universally Admired.
The accidental killing Of Miss Stella
West with a pistol, which she was clean
ing at the family residence at Mont
gomery yesterday. was a shock to the
many who heard OF ii when the news
reached the city shortly after it happened
1t brought sadness 10 the hearts of her
many friends as well as 10 others who
knew OF her only by reputation. The news
OF the accident having reached the city
spread rapidly. and was soon upon every
tongue. The circumstances Of her death
are sad. and nothing but deep regrets
We're expressed that a young lady of such
bright promise should have been killed.
and in such a manner.
The accident occurred at the summer
home of Mrs. X H. West at Nontgom-
cry. where her family has been spending
the summer months. Some time ago Miss
West was presented a pistol, a very pref
ty hammerless and double acting weapon.
and she seemed to take a great pride in
it. She would often clean it. and when
she went riding around Montgomery she
generally carried it with her, though time
and again cautioned by her brother, Mr..
J. b. West. that it was dangerous and
that she had best be very careful in hand
ling It.
1t was just before dinner, about O'Clock
that she was in a small room just off the
hall rubbing and cleaning the weapon as
she had been accustomed to do. she
was alone in the room, and as she did
not live long enough to explain It, it is
impossible to tell just how the accident
occurred. II is supposed however, she
undertook to breech or open the pistol,
and being unable to do 1t, began rubbing
it with a cloth with the muzzle toward
her. She must have had her hand on
the spring. and in some manner struck
the trigger at the same time. The weap-
on was fired. and she staggered to the
door. exclaiming. i've shot myself,
and fell.
The shot. followed by her exclamation
attracted the attention Of the members Of
her family who were in the house, and
they rushed quickly to her. only TO find
that she was breathing her last. The first
thought was to secure a physician, and
Mr.. ]. b. West finding a locomotive on
the track, hurried over to Sandhy station
as quickly as possible and telephoned Tor
DR.. T. j. Charlton. DR.. Charlton reached
Montgomery about o'clock, but Miss
West was dead when he arrived. He
made an examination of the wound and
found that the ball had entered her breast
a little to the right and had passed some
where about the base of the heart. 1t is
supposed that 1t either struck the edge
of the heart or the arteries at it's base,
breaking item and causing her death very
quickly. DR.. Charlton thinks that death
must have followed within five or ten min
utes after the shot was fired.
For the reasons explained, IL cannot be
known just how the accident happened.
The grief-stricken mother and brothers
were rendered the sympathies and assist
ance Of many friends, TO many of whom
the unfortunate death seemed almost as
much Of blow as 1t was to them.
Miss Stella Annie West was the only
daughter of Mrs. Nanette Habersham
West and the late Capt. j. b. West. Be
sides her mother. she leaves two brothers,
Mr.. j. b. West and Mr. Newell West.
Miss West was about 20 years old, ana
was young lady whose many admirable
qualities made her beloved and esteemed
wherever she was known Her many
charms or manner and person made her
ularity was limited only by her circle of
friends and acquaintance, which was a
wide one. Her sad death will cause "A
general feeling of sorrow, for she was al
mired BY many who knew of her yet who
dld not know her. but will deeply regret
that a young lady of her ACCOMPLISH
ments and Of such bright promise should
nave so sad and untimely an end The
body will be brought into the city to-
morrow morning, when the funeral viii
TAKE place at Laurel Grove cemetery.