Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-07-03
ACCIDENTALLY KILLED.
Young Son of A. Molde Acct
dentally Shot and Killed
Sunday Morning.
The Old Story-TWo Boys and a
Gun-Which They Didn't
Know Was Loaded.


A very sad accident caused by
ignorant children handling firearms,
occurred ON the West side ut about
O'Clock Sunday moving, and re-
suited in the death OF Adolph Molde,
the 15-year-old son OF Andrew MOlde,
in a few hours after the accident.
1t is the same old story, two boys
a gun, both ignorant OF
the use Of firearms and not knowing
that the gun was loaded.
The boy who did the shooting
was Irving SUlem, the 8 ycar-old son
OF ). l.. Sclem. the photographer.
The story of the shooting shows
that neither of the boys
knew anything about firearms and
did not realize their danger in hand
ling them.
Mr.. Solcm borrowed a double
barreled shot gun from one OF his
neighbours the day before for the
purpose OF killing hawks that had
been carrying off his chickens. Hear
ing a commotion among his poultry
at about 1 O'Clock Sunday morning.
Mr.. Solem got up and loaded the
gun, went out to look for hawks.
Seeing none and thinking that 1t
was perhaps too early, he retired
again eaving the loaded gun stand
ing in the corner OF the DINING
room.
Contrary tocustom, his boys arose
before Mr.. Solem did, and seeing the
gun. which they did not know was
loaded, began fooling with it. Just
at this time the Mode boy was
going past, driving his fathers cows
to pasture. Seeing the gun in the
hands of Irving Solem, the Mode
boy called ont to him to shoot at
him, saying that he would give him
permission. Then he came within u
foot or so of the boy, with the gun,
and said. "Hurry up If yourgoing to
shoot. for have got to go and l
want to see II you can hit me-
When he made this request he was
standing with his back to young
SOlem and not more than two feet
from the muzzle OF the gun.
Young Solem, not knowing that
the gun was loaded, and also igno-
rant of the effect il it had been, granted
tie request by pulling the trigger.
The gull was loaded with heavy
charge of buckslIot and the unfOrtu-
nate boy received the whole contents
of one barrel in the back just above
the hips.
The wound inflicted was u terrible
one, the entire charge passing
through his body, and resulting in
death about four hours after the
accident. Doctors were summoned
Immediately, but an examination
showed hat nothing could he done
to save the boy, as his spine was
broken ana from the wound his
bowels we're protruding.
In one ii the pockets of the boy
that was shot. was Il small east
iron toy pistol and it was broken in
small pieces. TO |, his toy pistol in u
measure is due the accident. A
- ia, ;..;,
repeatedly held them at each Others
breasts md fired them, and from the
way this accident occurred it would
seem tina; both boys supposed there
was no more danger with the shot
quit,
Andrew NUidr. father ui IT," boy
that was killed. IL the proprietor vi
I he cabinet factory on the east bank
of the river, just above the dana.
The boy has been great help to his
father in the shop, being able to run
the engine, thereby taking the place
of u man. He lives on the West
side near the Swedish Lutheran
church.
Mr.. SOlem, father Of the boy that
did the shooting, IL the proprietor OF
the photograph gallery on First
street and lives in the Williams resi-
dence on the west side. He is nearly
Frustrated with grief and has done
verything possible to assist and
console the grief stricken parents OF
the victim Of the accident. He
blames himself more than the boy,
who, in view of his complete igno-
rance Of firearms, and the peculiar
surrounding the acct
dent, cannot very well be held re-
spOnsible.
The funeral was held at 3 O'Clock
Monday. Rev. X. A. Bloom
of the Swedish Lutheran church of
conducted the services and
the remains were buried in lakewood