The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-12
Benny Wells Accidentally Shot
by Robert Prather.
THE WEAPON is A REVOLVER.
Two Doys Only II Years old-Ieft
Alone In . Room NJ Young FRA
theirs Home, They Find the Pistol
In . Drawer and Play With IT.
Story-Mrs. Prather Prostrate0.

Benny Wells. the Ii-year-oid son OF p. F.
Wells OF 1874 Fourth avenue west, was ac-
esdentaliy shot and instantly killed yes
teriay afternoon a. o'clock by Robert
Prather. the u-year-oid son Of DR.. John
y. Prather The shooting took place at
Dr. Praiher's residence Is17 Fourth ave-
hue west, the weapon being a ss-caliber
revolver which the children had found Ia
the top drawer Of a chironier.
Mrs. Prather is seriously III and has not
been at home for Eve weeks. The chill
drsn are In charge OF Mrs Dora MeCor-
mick. Yesterday afternoon she went
down town. During her absence Robert
and his twin sister Nellie were playing
In the house with Benny Wells and his
younger brother.
The Wells family lives On the same street
and almost directly opposite. The chill
dren are great friends and have been in
the habit of playing together.
II appears that while Benny Wells and
Robert Prather were in DIR. ard Mrs.
Prathers bedroom. which Is on the ground
floor. and the other children were In an
adjoining room. Robert Wells discovered
a 32-caiiber revolver in the top drawer OF
high chironEer. The weapon belongs
10 Albert Prather. the eldest son of the
doctor.
Young Wells took the revolver out OF
the drawer, and after looking at II laid 1t
down on the top of the chiffonier. This
attracted the attention OF Robert Praiher.
who climbed upon a chair and picked up
the revolver. So far as Is known. he had
never before had one in his hands or knew
anything about the Use Of it.
Wells was standing nearly in front OF
young Prather. who pulled back the ham,
mer and then pulled the trigger. AT tins
report of the shot Wells fell 10 the floor
with blood streaming from a wound over
hts right eye.
The children were greatly alarmed at
what had happened, ard when Mrs. Wells
reached the house she found Robert sit
ting on the floor. deathiy pale While
Mrs. Wells was telephoning for DR.. Emil
Bories Robert rushed out of the house and
a :
deathIy white and acted SO strangely that
he was told he had better go home. In
stead of SO doing he climbed OF a wood
pile, where he was subsequently found.
white as ghost and in a state Of total coll
lapse.
DR.. Bories arrived as soon as possible.
but he saw at the FIRST g,ance that the boy
had died instantly. The bullet had en-
tered directly over the right eye and
passed dagonally through the head. COM
Ing out over the left ear.
In the meantime word had been sent to
made 10 keep the news from Mrs Prather
but she got an linking of what had hap
pcned and the shock completely Frustrated
her. Mr.. Wells and DIR. Prather were
present a. the scene of the shooting when
Deputy Coroner c. b. Yandell arrived. The
deputy questioned young Prather about
the affair. The boy said that young Wells
! discovered the revolver IN the top drawer
/ OF the chIffon!er and placed il On the top
| His attention was attracted and he imme-
| diatcly climbed up on a chair and com
Inenced 10 examine the weapon. Continu-
| Ing he said: Il took the pistol in my
right hand and pulled the crooked thing
| indicating the hammer). back as far as
l could, and then / pulled with my finger
| On this thing (meauing the trigger. AS
| soon as | did this the thing went off and
/ Benny fe,i to the floor. / saw blood
| streaming from his head and don't know
| what happened after this was so scared"
| The boys answers 10 questions concern
| ing revolver and bullets showed that he
| had no idea of the mechanism or what a
loaded revolver meant.
| Mr. Yandel told both Mr Wells and DR..
| Prather that an inquest would be held IL
| either desired * Mr. Webs and Dr.
| rrathes hel3 a long consultation after
| whtch Mr.. Wells said that while he felt
/ iHdlgnan, that the revolver was left where
| the children could get /; he did 90; think
that any good purpose would be accom-
| pllsael by holding al inquest
| Or. Prather said last nigh. tina, he was
| greatly surprised 70 learn that this pistol
| was In the hou~e. Sometime age. when his
| eldest son A.her: got the revolver he had
/ told him he could not have II and had or
| Ge-ei him - take il back. The doctor
! says tia; Albert took the pistol to TIE
| house &C Z Beighbo-. but It was evidently
/ brought hack Whether Albert o. some
! oue csc psi K hack n the house ne does
/ DO, know
! Robers Prataer. who accidentally took
4ss.'s "a So