The San Francisco call., 1906-06-04
KILLS FRIEND
BY ACCIDENT
Joseph Lonergan Fatally
Shoots Wade Davis,
Fellow Student.
"Unloaded'' Pistol Is Re-
sponsible for Tragedy
in Oakland.

OAKLAND. June s.-Wade Davis. a
16-year-old student at ST. Mary's Col
lege. was accidentally shot and killed
this morning by Joseph A. Lonergan,
his classmate and chum. who did not
know the weapon ne was 1ourishing
was loaded
Davis died an hour after the acci-
cent. and Lonergan was arrested by
Captain Of Police Lynch for manslaugh-
ter bat was released on his own re-
cognizance.
Davis. Lonergan and Arthur Foley,
who witnessed the shooting, were boon
companions and were almost insepara-
bic. They had planned TO spend their
summer vacation together in the noun
tains. and q few days ago Lonergan
in violation Of the college rules, pur-
chased a cheap 5S-caliber bulldog re
volver. The weapon was concealed in
Davis trunk
shortly after o'clock this morning
the three boys went TO the trunkroom
70 inspect the revolver. When the
trunk was opened, Davis picked up a
knife. and Lonergan took the revolver
10 explain its merits to young Foley
and laughingly challenged Davis, who
held the knife alOft, 10 a duel
WARNING Is UNHEEDED.
AS he made the challenge Lonergan
pulled the trigger. There was no re-
port, and Davis exclaimed:
Look out, 1t may be loaded"
But as the warning came Lonergan
pulled the trigger again. There was
a loud report, and Davis fell 10 the
floor, ghastly wound in his right
temple.
Lonergan and Foley ran from the
room and notified the brothers of the
college. who telephoned TO the Provi-
dence Hospital. two blocks away. and
removed the wounded boy to the hOspi-
tai ward connected with the college
DR.. r J. Todd quickly responded TO
the telephone call, and he was Joined
shortly afterWard by Drs. W. :. Porter
and J. H Maher. The three physicians
worked over the boy for more than an
hour, but he was beyond human aid
and died about 1920 o'clock.
The bullet entered Davis right tenn
pie and lodged in the brain. Coroner
Mehrmann and Captain of Police VIII
son arrived upon the sceHe soon after
the boy died and after an investigation
decided that the shooting was purely
accidental. Ii was upon their recon-
mendation that Police Judge Smith
ordered Lonergan's release.
The body was removed 10 the Morgue,
where an inquest will be held next
Thursday night
BROKE THE COLLEGE RULES.
we bought the pistol several days
ago 10 take with us on a trip 10 the
mountains that we had planned for this
summer" said Lonergan. who is almost
prostrated by grief over the death of
his friend. My trunk was not. secure,
and as il was against the rules Of the
college TO have firearms, we put il in
Davis trunk. ] was positive that 1 had
removed all the cartridges before the
weapon was put in the trunk, and I was
therefore careless in handling ii. l was
confirmed in my belief that the revolver
was Unloaded when there was no re-
port after 1 first pulled the trigger.
Wade Davis was one of my best friends,
and I would give my own life to bring
him back TO life"
Davis had been attending the aca-
demic department of st. Mary's College
since the first of the year. He was Is
years old and, like the boy who shot
him, was considered an exemplary stu
dent by the college authorities His
parents formerly lived at 1917 Larkin
street san Francisco, but their home
was destroyed in the fire. and they are
now refugees across the bay. A search
is being made for them.
Lonergan, who will not be Is years
old until next December, is one of the
college athletes. The home Of his par
ents is at Nineland, in northern Cali
fornia.
Arthur Foley. who witnessed the
shooting and who corroborates Loner-
gan in all the details Of the sad affair.
lives at 1I77 McAllister street San
Francisco, with his parents