Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-02-01
CARELESS USE OF FIREARMS.

Editor Democrat
The careless use of firearms has be-
come so prevalent that Il Is positively
alarming, and It is high time that
measures should be adopted to abate It..
The mortality occasioned by the reckless
use of these deadly weapons in our own
state the past year is serious, and In
most cases attended with no palliating
circumstances.
A hunter starts out for q deer, and
taking the re,ult OF his adventure Into
consideration, he does not know deer
from hollow log. II is deer he Il
after, and anything movable or immova-
Bile, animste or inanimste, with which he
Il not familiar. IL surely the object sought.
He moves quietly about watching for hi.
prey, and soon he catches a glimpse OF
something moving, and IL must be the
ideal Of his pursuit. without waiting for
further surety of the fact he discharges
his gun and the victim drops. His am
bition Ia grstifled. his labor l, rewarded.
He ushes to feast his eyes upon II, and
Oh, horrors! 1t is a msn. Subsequent
Investigation proves that II WAS purely an
accident and all parties interested are sp-
peased ~
The hunt goes on. Others are slain By
these constitutional idiots without the
semblsnce of crimlnslity; and yet trust
that when the indignation OF long.suf-
fering people Is sufficiently aroused the
statutes will provide home for these
headed monsters in penitentiary
where they will find time to reflect upon
the misery, the heart. t.rending scenes and
mourning OF families broken up by their
Unsuitable thirst for deer.
But there are other object lessons no
less serious or criminal only occurring
under different circumstance, and | In
close two items OF evidence:
LrrrLE GIRL snor.
wEsryILLE, y. IL, Jan. 6.
Annie Dupont, u ycars OLD, living with her
adopted parents. Mr.. and Mr.. Frank Ssoyin.
was -hot In the main street OF this village this
afternoon. by Joseph Peitier, aged % years. The
shooting wss undoubtedly an accident. and II
was another instance Of carelessness with load
ei weapon. The girl Is nos serioo.ly wounded
except that blood poisoning may follow which
would lead 10 q serious result. II nos death.
According to the explanation given OF the ar'
cisicnt. Pelter had been out cunning and was on
his way home when he met the girl In the street
tie deliberately raised his shot gun with the
orier 10 hold up her hands or "I'ii shoot YOU"
The weapon instantly discharged, the shot taking
effect In Mis-. Duponts right leg above the knee.
" Then the girl fell. Peltler rushed N bis house
and was later found In his room crying ny steri-
cally. lie aid he did not know the gun was
loaded as he thought II had been discharged In
the woods. The girl was carried home and given
surgical attention. Both the girl and young
man belong 20 excellent families and there hay
Ing been no trouble whatever between them the
supposition that the shooting was accidental IL
well founded.
Ror SHOT his SISTER.
PREsouE Isle, Jan. 10.
A sad accidental shooting occurred about three
miles from here Saturday evening Colby he
revolver. which wasn't loade,i.' st his IL year.
old liter, stella, when was discharged, the
ball entering the girl's right check and lodged In
the base OF the brain. She died In about 10
minutes.
la one OF the two cases, II was settled,
suppose. that the act WAS justifsble
from the fact that the young man was OF
a good family; that he hsrbored no III
will toward his victim; that he "Dldn't
know II was loaded: and that he had n
good hearty cry over the affair.
This NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ed" plea has become too thin to be ac-
corded hearing. Did you kao,r II WAS
not losdeds is the question, and when
assured OF that fact no one has moral
or legal right to point II at another and
90 through the act Of firing. IL Ia rep
r-hensible and villainous and cannot be
too universally condemned. Children at
play are allowed by their parents to In
dulge In this form OF amusement which
adds to the role of mortality.
Iconcluie with the suggestion TO one
and all ~ho have an uncomfortable pas
sion for pointing and firing such deadly
weapons a. guns or pistols at innocent
people, old or young, TO be sure your
weapon Ia loaded, point IL ut your target
with the muzzle toward you and fire. 10
this way the list OF deplorsble accidents
will be immessursbly sm,ll. 5. s.