The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-02
WARNING CAME TOO LATE
Sad Ending of Happy New
 Year Hunt.
Father Finds Son Cold in Death. Inquest Held and Body Pre- pared for Burial-Grief-
 Stricken Family.

Killed yeSterday a1ternOon Dy the aCcf- dental discharge of a shot gun, the load of shot entering the face just below the left. eye. taking away the entire upper portion of the face and head on that side, death resulting instantly.
 He was the son of T. o. Hamilton, fore man of the B own Printing Company, ane resided at s16 s. Court Street.
 About 3 o'clock yesterday morning Will liam Ray, the .l6-year-old son of W. B. Ray of the firm of Jones & Ray, whole sale grocers, borrowed gun, and to- gether with Thomas Hamilton, the de- ceased, his younger brother. Theodore Hamilton, who is g years of age. and Hardy watley. 10 years old, went hunt ing. They had walked considerable dis- tance, and were returning home when the accident occurred. They were about two miles from town at the old Hughes place. on the old Plank Road, which Is an extension of Cleveland Avenue. when they stopped to rest. When william Ray, who carried the gum put it down and walked a short distance away, Thom- as Hamilton picked it up, as all the boys were eager to handle it and his little brother, Theodore, had just begun to demonstrate with him, saying that his mother did not want him to have the gun when they were all startled by the report and turned in time to see Thomas fall. his mouth open, as if in the act of answering his little brother.
 Father of Boy Notified.
 They called to two men. one of whom was white. who were nearby. and asked that they look after the dead boy while they went for assistance They ran all the way to town and telephoned MT. Hamilton, the father of the dead boy, of the accident, end told him where the body could be found, He immediately procured a conveyance and when he ar rived at the scene of the accident, found his little boy alone, the men who were asked to remain with the body having left He telephoned the undertaking es- tahlishment of W. II. Tice, who is also coroner, and a wagon was despatched to remove the remains. The body was brought to the undertaking establishment on Court Street. where the inquest was held. William Ray was the first witness examined. and his testimony follows:
 T borrowed the gun, with the intention of shooting birds or any game that l might find, and when I started Thomas and Theodore Hamilton and Hardy Wat ley joined me. We had walked several miles, and had killed one black bird. when We started to return home. All the boys had asked that they might shoot the gun, but as they were small, l declined to let them do so. We had stop ped near the road on the Hughes place, when I put the gun on the ground and walked a short distance away. In few minutes I heard the report and turned in time to see Tommy fall. When l reached him he was dead. I called to two men, one a white man and the other a negro. who were working nearby, and asked them to remain with the body until could get help. We then ran to the city, and when We reached the first telephone l called mp his father and told him of the accident. I don't know just how the shot was fired, as was some distance away. Tommy was one of my best friends and I loved him almost like a brother"
 Hardy Watley was the next witness examined, and he said they had stopped to rest, and when Will Ray put the gun down Tommy picked 1t up and in d mo- ment the shot was fired and he saw him fall. His testimony was much the same as that of William Ray, and he was ex- cused.
 
 ed to the stand, and with eyes red from weeping, and with sobs of grief. told of the death of his brother. He said they had stopped to rest and when the gun was left on the ground by William Ray his brother, Tommy, picked 1t up and he told him to put 1t down, as his mother objected to his handling guns Just as he finished speaking the gun was dis charged. and his brother fell to the
 
 intended to reply to him.
 Verdict of Coroner.
 A verdict of death by the accidental discharge of a shot gun in the hands of the deceased was rendered.
 From the wound it appears that the muzzle of the gun was within an inch of the face when it was fired. as the burn from the powder covered very small portion of the face. The load of shot entered just under the left eye and ranged upward. taking the eye. a DOT tion of the nose and the entire upper portion of the skull aawy. Some DOT tions of the skull were carried several feet from the body, but the brain was not injured in the least.
 It was found on examination of the gun that only one barrel had peen discharged The body was prepared for burial by the undertaken and sent to the home of his parents on South Court Street. where the mother, almost frantic with grief awaited It's arrival.
 The new year of 1902 will be remember ed by Mir. and Mrs. Hamilton and family as the saddest in their lives; when their oldest boy who was in the best of health light hearted and care-free, was so sud denly snatched from them by the grim reaper and the friends and acauaintanccs of the bereaved family as well have had the Happy New Year" changed to one of sorrow and grief
 The funeral will occur this afternoon st 2.3o o'clock from the residence. Dr. C. A. Stakcly. of the First Baptist Church. officiating.
 Jak