Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-12
DEATH FROM ACCIDENT
CoRoNER's VERDICT IN CASE OF
DAVID F. HUBER.
Statement Of Bingham Russell, the
Lad Charged With Shooting
Huber-The Autopsy.

The inquest held by Coroner hewitt at
the eighth precinct station house this
morning to determine the responsibility for
the. shooting OF David F. Huber, whose
death occurred at Freedman's Hospital Sat-
urday night, resulted in the release of
Bingham Russell. who had been held under
bonds to await the action of the coroner s
jury.
The shooting occurred the evening of
April . when Huber, aged nine years. and
Bingham Russell, aged fourteen, were play
ing in the back yard at the latters home
at BID 7 street northwest. The circum-
stances Of the shooting as then related
demonstrated that it was accidental, but
young Russell, accompanied by his father,
appeared at the station house and gave
himself up. The wounded boy appeared to
be improving until within the last few days,
when change for the worse was noted
and he finally succumbed to the effects of
the bullet wound.
DR.. Warfield of Freedman's Hospital tes-
tined to receiving young Huber at that in
stitution and gave an account of his condi-
ton during the period he was confined
there. He said the immediate cause of
death was meningitis, due TO the bullet
wound.
Sergt. Doyle of the eighth precinct told
or having taken an ante-mortem statement
from the wounded boy, which was 10 the
effect that he and young Russell were in
shack in the rear of the lot, and that Rus
sell was reading dime novel of the 'Dia-
mond Dick" variety. Huber said he saw
Russell put down the novel and put two
cartridges in 22-caliber revolver, then he
laid the gun down and took up his book
again. After reading about five minutes,
sell took up the revolver and shot him.
This statement was made shortly before
Huber's death and after he had been in
formed that he could not live.
Report of the Autopsy.
The next witness was Deputy Coroner
Glazebrook, who stated the result of an
autopsy held over the body. The bullet, he
said, had touched the brain, and he corrob-
GRATED DIR. Warfields testimony that the
immediate cause of death was meningitis
subsequent to a bullet wound.
Bingham Russell then voluntarily made a
statement in regard to the shooting. He
said he and David had been playing in the
back yard, shooting at a target with a
rifle and pistol.
eve went into the little shack to read"
said Bingham, land while lying down L
picked up the revolver, which had one cart
ridge in 1t. l raised the gun to shoot at a
black mark less than four feet high on the
wall and about two feet above David s
head. Just as l shot David must have
raised his head and was hit by the bullet"
He said the pistol at the time he pulled
the trigger was not more than foot and
half from the other boys head. and that he
did not warn Huber that he intended to
shoot. He had been reading a Frank Mer-
riwell novel, he thought
The jury was out but few minutes and
returned verdict that the shot was fired
unintentionally and that death was due to
an accident.
David Huber was said to have been an
exceptionally bright lad and very popular
among his playfelows. Throughout his long
period of illness he had been particularly
brave and won his way into the hearts of
the attendants and visitors by the manly
fortitude displayed while suffering from
the wound.