Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-10
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
Amy B. Heath, a Chelsea
Teacher, Seriously Injured.
Jimmie Judge, a Pupil, Thought the
Revolver Wasn't Loaded.
Weapon Had Been Obtained at Home
by Clifford Seekins.

Word reached here, about noon yes
terday that Miss Amy Il. Heath, a
teacher in the Davenport district in
Chelsea, had been shot by one of the
pupils. Whether accidental Or inten-
tional the report did not say. County
Attorney Leigh, to whom the report
came. soon after telephoned Judge Ste
VEINS Of the Chelsea municipal court TO
have Sheriff George H. Ames make an
investigation Of the case. Mr.. Ames
Investigated and as far as could be
learned there We're no circumstances
which would lead to any other than an
accidental theory in regard to the
affair.
II seems that 4 number of the pupils
in the district have Of late been play
ing policeman" as they express it.
Clifford Seekins. son of w. f. Seekins
superintendent of schools III Chelsea.
and a teacher at the Richmond High
school. has had a small toy pistol with
which he has been armed when at play.
All the boys are Of just the right age
to think the carrying of pistols to be
smart, and a few days ago the Seekins
boy. who is about II years of age, called
upon neighbor for the purpose of OBJ
tanning a pistol. He failed in securing
one, however, but he assured his play
mates that he was soon going to bring
real pistol to school.
About $50 yesterday morning. he APP
peared with the revolver. having OBJ
tanned it at his home. The game of
policeman went on and Seekins had ar
rested a boy by the name Of Hunting
ton. Jimmie Judge. the 13-year-old
son Of Mr.. and Mrs. James Judge, took
the revolver from young Seekins. The
teacher was in the school room at this
time and the fact that the boys had
loaded revolver was unknown to her.
The lad in whose possession the weapon
then was says he did not know that it
was loaded. The Seekins boy had told
him that it was not. The Judge boy
pointed the revolver at the teacher and
said: Look out teacher" AT the same
time he pulled the trigger. The revol-
Yer went off and the bullet hit Miss
Heath in the back of the head just
above the base Of the brain. The force
with which the bullet was sent was not
strong enough to penetrate deeply.
| Miss Heath was able to walk few
| rods to the residence of Mrs. S. j. Bur-
| bank. whose son. Llewellyn Burbank.
went immediately<to the residence of
| Deputy Sheriff NJ. l.. Rollins and tele
phOned for a physician. DR.. Alton
| Sawyer responded and probed for the
| Billet 1t was located and removed. The
| wound would have been much more Sc
rious had the bullet struck half an inch
| lower. In fact there would have been
little chance for recovery. as the
spinal cord would have been severed
and death would have resulted almost
instantly.
| The boys are bright and smart but
! have succeeded in working up quite a
dime-novel spirit in their play. The
best of relations have existed between
the teacher and her pupils and there
are none among them who would harm
her.
The only blame which can attach to
anyone is for not being more careful
in leaving firearms around where chill
dren can get hold of them. 1t is under
stood however. that Mrs. Seekins di /
not know that her son had the revolt
YER ATr. Seekins was away at tha
time.
Miss Heath is - years of age and has
taught in this district two terms pre-
vious to the present one. Her home IS
in Pittston. she being the daughter of
Rufus Heath Of that town. She is now
at Mrs. Burbank's residence. her condi-
ton not permitting her removal to her
boarding place at the residence of j.
Howard Hunt.
The revolver used was of 22-calibre
and had three loaded chambers. 1t was