Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-30
THEY PLAYED WITH 4 PISTOL And the Reader Can Easily Sur
 mise the Story.
 4aH#Hs A BOY FATALLY WOUNDED He and Comrade Were SkyIarking With a Revolver When It DScharged-A De.
 tailed Statement

An unfortunate and possibly fatal acci- dent occurred shortly after F o'clock noon yesterday at the corner of Second avenue and Eighteenth street in the grocery store of J. c. Brown, in which Scott Morrison. white lad about lo years old, shot Gaines Hammer aged IT, with a 3S-caliber pistol, the ball entering near the center of the abdomen.
 Physicians were summoned and after a nasty examination Hammer was re- moved to Drs. Wilson X Browns ln- firmary on First avenue.
 Immediately after the shooting Morrl- son went to police headquarters ana gave himself up. A reporter called at the city jail and obtained from Morrison the fol- lowing version of the shooting;
 Morrison's Statement.
 My name is Scott Morrison. I have been employed as clerk in the store of J. c. Brown. Have been with him since January 6. Gaines Hammer was at the store this morning. We are good friends and I asked him to go with me to take orders. l make a regular round taking orders every morning. After completing my round and making deliveries l forgot to carry some syrup to Mrs McVay and came back for it. We stopped on the way and I knocked some balls for Gaines to catch. After delivering the syrup we went to Mrs. Browns, wife of J. c. Brown, my employer. to carry some po- tatoes, and from there we returned to the store. There was not a word of i'll feeling passed on the trip. After reach ing the store Gaines left. 1 don't know where he went. He returned shortly af- ter dinner. Cooper and another little boy were with him. I knew there was a pistol in the drawer and decided to take 1t out and clean it. Gaines came behind kl.l aud enfd Throw it up and I will show you how to catch it' I threw it up and on lower ing my hand he grasped the pistol and 1t fired. I don't know whether it was a self-cocker or not. I did not catch 1t. Had not examined it and did not know whether or not It was loaded. It had been in the drawer some time. I was frightened when it fired and ran to the telephone. but could not say anything. I told Gaines was sorry had shot him. MT Brown had gone to dinner and only we boys were in the store so far as I know.
 will be 16 years old the 18th of June. My fathers name is John A. Morrison He is contrac ctor and is now in Gaines ville Ga I have a mother, brother and sister, and we live at 1172 Twentieth street, My brother works for Milner & Kettig.
 never was in any trouble before. Was witness one time. Saw two Greeks have fight.
 When Morrison asked the reporter about the condition of Hammer and was told that the chances were against his recovery he placed his head on his arm and cried pitifully.
 Hammer lives with his parents on First avenue, between Seventeenth and Eigh- teenth streets. His condition was sucl that the doctors refused to allow the re. porter to talk with him. It is learned however that he states that the two were fooling with the pistol and the discharge was accidental.
 At late hour last night Hammer was still alive, but was not expected to live through the night