Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-05

Samuel M. White, the 14-years.
old son of Samuel j. White, carriage
manufacturer, residing at No. SI2
Harrison street, was accidentally shot
and killed Monday night by his bosa!n
friend, Garrett Reed, the 14-years old
son of Archibald s. Reed, contractor,
at the Reed residence, No. 1921 Adamss
street. The tragedy has prostrated thel
families Immediately concerned and has
been d fearful shock to their many
friends.
Some years ago Mr.. Reed bought for,
his son Archie a hnmmerleas, breech1
loading gun, and one of the conditional
of its presence In the house was that i'll
should never Ee loaded while in theiI
house. 1t was this gun which youngI
Garrett Reed fired.
Young White was bright, handsomtj
boy, who attended School No. 20 att
Eighth and Adams streets, where he
expected to receive his promotion Tues.
day. Sitting on the porch at the Reed
residence Monday night he told Mira.
Reed of his expected return to school,
and Uhile they were talking, Garrett
Reed came on the porch. Garrett's
mother told him to come to supper; hel
remarked that he did not wish any,
supper and invited his chum, youngl
White. to come up stairs with him.
Mrs. Reed wenttto the diningfoom and
there Mr.. Reed and other members of
the family were at supper, while the
boys were In the third story front room.S
Suddenly the family was startled by
the sound OF an.explosion upstairs, and
Mr.. Reed rushed up to investigated
When he reached the third floor hal
tnnn1 4AnFratt mn WHIT nh
was bleeding profusely from woupdLl
in the neck. As he approached theml
both boys fell. His fret thought was,
that two of his own sons had been shotl
but soon he saw that the boys con n
cerned were Garrett and young White.la
DR.. ii. w. Briggs was summoned andl
was on the scene within few minuteHI
of the shooting, but could do nothinaI
to cave the injured boy, whose jugulais
vein bad been severed by the shot, and
portion Of whose chin had been torn,
away. White died in about five minutesl
after the shooting, without uttering al
word.
The Reed boy became hysterical and
for some time could give no oleas5
account of the accident. 20, why did
| shoot Sammy; why didn't aim somi /
other wayY" he exclaimed severa.
| times. The explanation of the accident
is that he was handling his brother's
hammerl9ss gun, and not knowing that.
it was loaded, pointed it at his friends
and pulled the trigger. I'll
Drs. e. q. Shortlidge and Willard
Springer and Coronsr'a UndertakeA
James I. Chandler were early on the.
scene, and the sad news was conveyed
to Samuel j. White, the father of thd
dead boy. Tax Collector George HI
Mccall, a neighbor of the Whites, todd
MIR. White to the Reed house and dig
what he could to break the force OF thet
awful news. A son of Mr.. McCall'&
was q chum OF the dead boy. On Mr.
McCall's suggestion, the body of the-
dead boy was removed by Undertaken
Jordan A. Wilson to Mr.. Wilson Is oiiooA
before being taken to the White real II
dence. Meanwhile. DIR. Springer, ths4
White family physician, had gone tos
the White home to break the news tn
the boys mother, who was sadly pros
trated. n
After the accident, to avoid furtheti
excitement to him, young Reed waI
taken to the residence of Mrs. William
I. Porter, where DIR. ShortIidge at L
tended him. Tuesday morning, the ladS
had somewhat recovered from thsl
nervous shock attendant upon the ACCT /
dent.