The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-04
DIED FROM HIS WOUND.
The Sad Death of Little Johnnie
Oates.
HE FINGERED IN AGONY
Was Acciden tally Shot by John Ingram,
Who Was Firing at a Target
Dangerous Plaything
for Boys.

Johnnie Oates, the 12-year-old son of
Mrs. John Gilbert of 101 West La
Platte street, Centerville. died at Wells
hospital yesterday afternoon from
wound he received Tuesday evening at
the hands of John Ingram boy about
his own age. 1t is said the shooting
was entirely accidental.
The lads death was the result of
what some people regard as almost
criminal carelessness in parents who
permit children to carry a gun. The
shooting occurred near the home of
Mrs. Gilbert about o'clock Tuesday
evening. A crowd of boys had %
caliber rifle and were shooting at
mark. Young Oates joined the other
boys just as one of their number, John
Ingram, had fired at the target and
was in the act of reloading the gun.
Accounts differ as to just what the
subsequent circumstances We're, al
though all the youngsters agree that
the gun went off purely by accident
One story was to the effect that just
as young Oates Joined the crowd OF
boys young Ingram turned into such
position that the rifle pointed directly
ridge into place it went off without
any apparent reason for its doing so.
Another statement made by boy who
was present was that there was sup
posed to be no cartridge in the gun,
which could not very well have been
the case, however, and it is the judg-
ment of some of the authorities that
not all of the facts have yet been told.
The bullet entered the breast of young
Oates at the median line and he fell
to the ground. The other lads, realiz-
ing that he was probably badly hurt,
set up an cutlery and the boys mother
hearing it, ran to his assistance. She
had him carried home and sent for
physician, who pronounced the case
serious and had the lad removed to
Dr. Wells hospital, where a laparotomy
was performed by Drs. Wells and Lobb
and the bullet located in the muscles
of the left side and removed. The sur
geons found the bullet had penetrat-
ed the liver and from that time had
no hope for the boys recovery. He
fingered in agony until yesterday after
noon at about 8 o'clock, when he
passed away. The boy was brother
of Richard ]. Oates, one of the pub
fishers of the Weekly Tribune who was
by the lads side all during his suffer-
ing. The body was removed to Rich
ards undertaking rooms, and Coroner
Julien notified. From his inquiry he
came to the conclusion an inquest
would be necessary to establish all the
facts, and an official investigation will
accordingly be held this evening at
80 o'clock.
The gun from which the fatal bullet
was fired carried an extra short %
caliber and is so diminutive an affair
that many people carry the idea that
a bullet fired from one could hardly
do any great amount of damage. 1t
may be that this impression is respon-
sible for the fact that it is a very
common thing to see boys playing with
such weapons, but the fact that the
bullet in this case passed almost
through the boys body illustrates the
fact that even such guns are danger
Gus playthings for boys. 1t is possible
that the sad and deplorable conse-
quences may have deterrent effect on
parents who humor their boys by per-
hitting them to carry fire arms.