The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-09-07
ACCIDENTAL KILLING.
NeEeo MOmsn fleets Death by IL
Careless Handling of Pistol.-Un-
fortunate Occurrence in Restaurant
Here Tuesday Morning.

Louisa Johnson, n eolored woman,
was accidentally shot and killed in a
restaurant here Tuesday morning
about 8 O'Clock She was employed
as cook by Randolph Cox, also color
ed. and was engaged in serving
breakfast for a customer when the
tragedy occurred. Two negro boys,
Man Allen and Lem Baskerville,
were looking at a pistol which be-
longed to the former he trying to sell
it to the latter. Allen handed the
gun to Baskerville who s'broke" it
and took the cartridges out. He ex-
amined the weapon and replacing
the cartridges handed it back to
Allen with the remark that it would
not act right. ''I'll show you how
to work the gun, said Allen, resting
it on his left arm aud pulling the
trigger, the pistol being self-cocker.
The pistol fired, the ball passing
through plank partition (Which
separates the store from the restau-
rant) and striking the woman on the
| other side just as che Was in the act
| of bending over the table. The ball
took effect in the right side OF the
head just above the temple and death
was instantaneous.
| Allen declares he did not know the
gun was loaded and did not know
that the woman was on the other
side of the partition. He had not
seen her, there had been no trouble
with any one and the shooting was
the result of an accident. These are
substantially the facts testified to
at the preliminary hearing before
Justice of the Peace T. L. Jones, by
Lem Baskerville and the defendant,
Man Allen himself Randolph Cox,
Paul and Silas Carroll and AL Bruce
being examined as witnesses also tes-
tifying to certain material facts in
corroboration.
R. S. McCoin represented Allen and
after all the evidence was submitted
ted he argued that as no motive was
shown and the killing being the re-
suit of an accident his client ought
to be turned loose While admitting
that no motive was shown and he
himself was satisfied the killing was
accidental, Justice Jones was OF the
opinion that in view of the reckless
and careless handling of the gun the
grand jury ought to pass upon the
case. He would not commit Allen to
Jail but let him give a reasonable
bond for his appearance at court.
He fixed the bond at $50 and this
was given.
This is another case OF death from
} an "unloaded'' gun. There is too
much of carrying concealed weapons
and the careless and "biggity" hand,
ling OF guns in public places by hall
grown negro boys-and white ones
too-and the practice ought to be
broken up. Ali good citizens should
make it their business to report all
such cases and the violatOrs OF the
law brought to punishment. If the
pistol totipg habit was broken uE
: there would be fewer killings, either
, intentional or accidental.
Louisa Johnson was an industri
, Gus, hardworking woman, kind anc
! accommodating, and it is too BAG
that her life should have been cut
off in this ruthless manner by thu
reckless handling of gun with which
this boy had no business and tn
possession OF which very likely mad'
him more worthless and vicious thai
I he would have been without it. Thu
unfortunate affair should be a warn
' ing lesson to Others.