Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-06
cMAales ruanfa's'pEATm.
Now Thosshi iAai ~ csswlsy JsactIsa ssy's
Osath Was Accidental.

The people Of South Lewiston are
deeply moved at the untimely death Of
young Charles Turner, who was found
shot dead in the orchard just back Of
Mr.. Willard Robinson's farm at South
Lewiston. on Wednesday forenoon. As
has been stated, the boy had worked
there only about week and was at
home Sunday. He owned an old
could do wonderful shooting.
On Sunday afternoon, when he got
ready to leave his Uncle John Turner's
house ITO go back to Robinsons he
brought out the double barrelled shot
gun and put 1t under the seat in the
wagon The guard over the trigger
had been broken and he had taken it
off.
Charlie" said Mr.. John Turner as
he saw him putting the gun away I'M
der the seat, you had better get that
guard fixed, for it is not safe to handle
the gun when it is loaded, with the
trigger bare"
Il know it," said Charles Turner,
ing But will buy a new gun when l
get ready and not get this one fixed
up"
He seemed happy and was quite
proud to think that he had started out
to work for himself. Mr.. Robinson
came up to the city on Tuesday to
town meeting" and left Charles with
only little work to do. He seems to
have done it and then taken the old
gun to go up in the orchard back Of the
house to shoot a partridge-for the
birds are thick and go right in the or
chards to peck at apples. Mr.. Robin
son came home and thought that Tur-
ncr had gone up to his grandmother s.
The next day he went up early in the
morning to see, and not finding him he
and John Turner came back, for the
latter thought at once of the old gun
and said that perhaps he was hurt
They had gone but little distance
from the house when they found him
stretched on the ground. his feet under
him as if he had been sitting cross
legged on the ground. The muzzle OF
he gun lay on his arm pointing toward
his breast, while the but was several
'eet from his body.
The appearances were that he had
seated himself. on the ground to watch
Or birds and had cooked the gun. point |
ng the butt away. He may nave seen
I partridge and seized the gun by the
nuzzle to pull it toward him. and the
inguarded triggers caught in the tail
angled orchard grass, and both par
els went off. making hole as large |
IS a silver dollar just above his heart, |
Killing him before he realized he was
nit. The muzzle was so near him that
I burned his coat and vest. The COM |
,,unity was Mortified when the facts |
vere known.
He was a son of Benjamin c. Turner. |
.ho died a few years ago, and the
grandson of the late Benjamin Turner
ather's death.
Until very recently he had been liv-
ng with his uncle John and his grand
mother, Mrs. Benjamin Turner. The
amily have been heavily breaved, Mrs.
Turner having lost husband. three sons,
NO daughters. daughterin-law and |
low this grandson, within a few years. |
rhe family have the sympathy of the
Whole community as the Turner's are
cry highly thought of and are an old
md respected family.
He was a young man of many fine
qualities. and bright and congenial as
companion. He was hard-working |
;oung fellow and had left the farm tol
work for Mr.. Robinson because he
bought it his duty to go to work for |
himself 1t was the first time he had
,een out to work and Mr.. Robinson |
;ays he was the best boy he ever had
n his farm because of not only being !
! faithful helper but being gentleman.
90. The young man had some prop
,rty and eXMayor Farrar was his |
guardian.