Middletown transcript., 1901-09-07
-. Throughout the State -.
SHOT DEAD BY A PLAYMATE

Samuel M. White, the 14-year-old son
of Samuel j. White, carriage manufac-
turer, residing at No. 8l2 Harrison street,
Wilmington, was accidentally shot and
killed Monday night by his bosom friend
Garrett Reed, the 14-year old son of
Archibald S. Reed, contractor, at the
Reed residence, No. 1924 Adams street.
The tragedy has prostrated the families
Immediately concerned and has been a
fearful shock to their many friends.
Some years ago Mr.. Reed bought for
his son Archie a hammerless, breech-
loading gun, and one of the conditions
of its presence in the house was that it
should never be loaded while in the
house. 1t was this gun which young
Garrett Reed fired.
Young White was a bright, handsome
boy, who attended School No. 28 at
Eighth and Adams streets, where he ex-
pected to receive his promotion Tuesday.
Sitting on the porch at the Reed residence
early Monday night. he told Mrs. Reed
of his expected return to school, and
while they were talking, Garrett Reed
came on the porch. Carrots mother
told him to come to supper; he remarked
that he did not wish any supper and in
vited his chum, young White, to come
up stairs with him. Mrs. Reed went to
the dining-room and there Mr.. Reed and
other members of the family were at sup
per, while the boys were in the third
story front room. Suddenly the family
was startled by the sound of an explosion
upstairs, and Mr.. Reed rushed up to
investigate When he reached the third
floor he found Garrett supporting White,
who was bleeding profusely from a
wound in the neck ~ '-e aDproached
them both boys fell. His first thought
was that two of his sons had been shot,
but soon he saw that the boys concerned |
were Garrett and young White.
DIR. H.\W. Briggs was summoned and |
was on the scene within few minutes |
of the shooting, but could do nothing to |
save the injured boy, whose jugular vein |
had been seryered by the shot, and a
portion of whose chin had been torn
away. White died in about five minutes
after the shooting, without uttering a |
word.
The Reed boy became hysterical and
or sometime could give no clear account
If the accident. 80, why did l shoot
sammy: why didn't l aim some other
Eayi" he exclaimed several times. The
of the accident is that he
vas handling his brothers hammerless
,un, and not knowing that it was loaded,
pointed it at his friend and pulled the
rigger.
Drs. Z. G. Shortlidge and Willard
springer and Coroner Undertaken James
I. Chandler were early on the scene, and
he sad news was conveyed to Samuel J.
White, the father of the dead boy. Tax
Collector George II. Mccall, a neighbor
# the Whites, took Mr.. White to the
Reed house and did what he could to
Freak the force of the awful news. A son
# Mr. McCall's was chum of the dead
10Y. On Mr.. McCalPs suggestion, the
,ody of the dead boy was removed by
Undertaken Jordan A. Wilson to Mr..
Wilson'S office before being taken to
he White residence. Meanwhile, DR..
springer, tire " ffriite family physician,
lad gone to the White home to break the
ews to the boys mother, who was sadly
After the accident, to avoid further
xcitement to him, young Reed was taken
o the residence of Mrs William 7. Por- |
er, where DIR. Shortlidge attended him.
tuesday, morning the lad had somewhat {
from the nervous shock atten- {
ant upon the accident.