Evening journal., 1905-01-30
FATALLY SHOT
BY A COMPANION
Van Vranken Wise Lost His
Life As a Result Of Pistol
Wound
SHOOTING WAS AN ACCIDENT
speoIaI to The EvenIng Iournal.

Special to The Evening Journal.
New Castle. Jan. SO.-One of the sad
dest accidents that has occurred in this
city for some time took place early last
evening, when Van Vrankon Wise, aged
IA years. son Of Mrs. Charles V. Wise
lost his life as the result OF a pistol shot
fired from a revolver In the hands OF
Joseph Tobln.
The shooting occurred shortly after
O'Clock while Mrs. Wise and her daugh-
ter, Miss olga, were attending services
in the Methodist Church. Van Vrank-
en- was left alone In his home and as
there had been two attempts to rob the
home recently ne became nervous and
securing a revolver, which Is owned by
A. ii. Padberg, he walked to the depot
to find some companions who would
keep him company during the absence
of his mother and sister.
Arriving at the station he found JOS
eph M. Tobln, aged 13; Granville Fer
guson, aged IL, and Harry Ryan, aged
u. These he invited TO his home TO
make fudge candy Shortly after the
boys reached the Wise home Van Vran-
ken displayed the revolver and taking
the cartridges out snapped 81 several
times 10 show his companions how a.
worked. Laying the gun on q drain
near the sink. Wise and the other boys
became interested I'm candy making and
soon forgot the pistol In the meantime
however, Van NranlSen had reloaded
the weapon, saying nothing about 1t 10
his companions.
After the boys had finished the candy
they all went to the sink TO wash their
hands. Seeing the revolver lying on
the drain table, Tobin picked DC up,
not knowing II was loaded. and pulled
the trigger with the result that Wise
fell to the floor with bullet hole I'm
the right side OF his head above the
temple.
Hurried For Help.
As soon as the lads saw that their
companion was injured they ran from
the house and went to the home OF
James B. Toman and informed him Of
what had happened. He at once start
ed to locate Mr.. Padberg. who was In
New Castle, the boys returning to the
home OF Frank NJ. Carswell. Mr. Pad
berg having been informed OF the oc-
cuwence, hastened to the church and
notified Mrs. Wise. who was prostrated
at the news Of her sons injury
While on his way in town Mr.. Toman
met James Shaw and Charles Mcclure.
who az once hurried to the home OF
Mrs. Wise and found Van Vranken ly-
ing in the kitchen with life almost ex-
tinct He died a few minutes later.
DR.. William II. Kuntz was summoned
and at once hurried 20 the scene Of the
accident. He found young Wise lying
I'm a corner of the kitchen upon his
back Above his right temple was a
bullet hole and from his mouth bloody
froth was issuing The bullet had PEN
etrated the brain and the weapon lay
on the dresser neaiNpy. After a hurned
examination the physician saw an was
over. The body was taken I'm charge
lby Undertaken Charles H. Clewell. who
notified Coroner PurlSs. of Wilmington,
and an inquest was held today
Accidental Death.
Upon arriving in New Castle this
morning the following jury was sworn
in by the coroner: James B. Toman.
foreman; George e. Freebery, Archie
NJ. Watson. Lewis e. Eliason. John ].
Walls, Frank r. Carswell. After hear
ing the evidence a verdict was given
as follows:
Resolved, That after a careful review
OF the testimony touching the manner
lof the death OF Van Vranken Wise the
jury do find that he came 10 his death
by a pistol shot wound Inflicted at the
hands of Joseph NJ. Tobin, and the jury
do further find that in their judgment il
was purely accidental upon the part OF
the said Joseph NJ. Tobin and that he be
and hereby is exonerated from amy in
tention to commit the said deed
Few Witnesses Examined.
At the hearing this morning which
took place in the United States Hotel
but four witnesses were examined, the
three boys who We're directly connected
with the accident and Mr.. Shaw. Each
of the boys was examined separately
and each told the same story, denying
that they had concOcted a tale between
them. They made no effort to concea
| 1ir,rrf Iair,rr nd the iflf-v had no hneifarot