The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-16
PLAYMATE'S FATAL SHOT.
PAUL JOHNsON's LIFE ENDED BY a
GUNS DISCHARGE.

Careless Handling of the Gun ana
"Didn't Know 1t Was Loaded" the
CnuSe-Was Returning With -Four
Companions From the Field Where
They Had Been Shooting when an
Accidental Discharge of the Gun
in the Hands of Robbie Westcott
Placed a Load of Shot In JOhnson's
Breast-His Death Almost Instan-
tancous-NO Inquest Held.
Paul johnson, a 12-year-old white boy,
was shot and Instantly killed about $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon by the acci-
dental discharge of a gun in the hands Of
a playmate of the same age.
The boys had been out shooting, those in
the party being Robbie Westcott, Rodney
Fulford, Hugh Fulton, Robert McAllister
and young Johnson. The boys were play
mates and neighbors, their parents all liv-
ing In the same neighborhood at Barnard
and Eighth streets. Young Johnson was1
a Grippe, having an injury in the shoulder
which prevented him from engaging ac-
lively in play with other boys of his own
age, but he was able to accompany them
on their rambles.
Westcott and Fulford were the only two
members of the party who had guns, Full
ford having a doubIe-barrelled breech-
loader and Westcott a single barrelled
gun. The boys were returning through an
old field some distance south of Harden
and Twelfth streets, when Fulford and
Westcott exchanged guns, boylike, each
wanting to carry the others gun. John
son was some distance ahead of the Others
saying that he was afraid of the guns
One of the boys called out to Johnson. who
faced around to see what was wanted.
when the gun Westcott was carrying was
accidentally discharged. Sending a load of
shot into Johnson's breast.
The boy fell and never spoke after his
companions reached him. The boys were
terrified at what had happened. and did
everything they knew how to do to restore
thelr companion to consciousness, not
thinking that he was dead, Fulford Meal
llster and Westcott remained with the
body while Fulton ran off for assistance.
lie stopped long enough al the house of
Sergt. j. NJ. Mock to tell of the shooting.
Sergt Mock telephoned the police barracks
and Chief McDermott and Detective Scully
went to the scene at once in the chiefs
buggy. The boys were gathered around
their dead companion bathing his face.
sun supposing him to be alive. Drs. r. G..
Norton and M L. Boyd had been summon
ed and arrived on the scene shortly after
Ihey found on examination that death had
been caused by the shot which entered the
left breast and neck, some of the shot pre-
sumably piercing the heart
The body was transferred to the home
OF the boys mother at Barnard and Eighth
streets Young Johnson's father, it is said,
was killed in railroad accident near St.
Louis several years ago. He was the
youngest of three brothers The family has
resided in Savannah for several years.
Coroner Goette being at Tybee. the act
ing coroner, Justice Samuel Reynolds,
took charge of the case. When young
| Johnson's companions found that he was
| dead they slipped away and went to their
| homes. All that had been gotten out of
! them was that Johnson had been killed
accidentally. Chief McDermott secured
| the names of the boys and ordered the de-
| tectives to bring them to his office, which
| was done. The boys were accompanied
| by their parents. The case was investiga-
| ted by Justice Reynolds and Chief McDer-
| mott. The boys for some time refused
! to say who did the shooting, simply saying
| that johnson had been accidentally killed
| by the discharge of a gun. They were
| urged by their parents to tell all they
| knew about the matter, and finally Robbie
! Westcott, after being urged to do so by
| MS Idiuefy MT. 4. b. w eStcOtt, stated
that the gun, the discharge of which was
| fatal to young Johnson, was in his hands
| at the time. Westcott said that he and
Fulford had exchanged guns, as he want
ed to carry Fulford's double barreled
breechloader. He was not used to carry
ing double barreled guns, he said, and did
no know that this one was loaded. He
was carrying the gun on his shoulder with
the barrels pointing forward and the trig-
gers up, he said, when one OF the ham,
mers caught in the collar of his shooting
Jacket and the gun was discharged. The
other boys corroborated this statement
A deposition TO this effect was, made
by Westcott before Justice Reynolds The
latter did not consider an inquest neces-
sary, as both he and the chief were salts
fed that the shooting was accidental. The
boys were all allowed to go to their homes.
There seems to be a shooting mania
among the boys of the city, as dozens of
| them are out every afternoon,
with guns, securing the suburbs
and the territory close around
the city. This being the case, it is not
to be wondered at that there are some
bad accidents. 1t is to be hoped that
young Johnson's sad fate will prove a
warning to these boys who are so care
less in handling firearms