Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-30
WOUND WAS FATAL.
Accidental Shot Causes Death of Olin
C. williams.

DIN c. Williams. colored, twenty years
old, who was accidentally shot by his
I brother, Vernon u. Williams, eighteen years
| old, Sunday morning last at their home on
Telegraph road, three miles from Oxon
HILL Prince George county. Md, mention OF
which was made in The Star. died yester-
day morning at the family home without re-
gaining consciousness. The wound inflicted
was two inches above his heart and the bali
passed through his lungs and Embedded IT.
self in the spinal cord. Death ensued after
the victim had experienced a number Of
severe commissions.
The members of the Williams family are
| among the respected colored residents OF
Oxon Hill district. George Williams the
father, was once a servant I'm the family of
the late DR.. John Bayne. The news of the
son's tragic death Travelled fast and many
messages of sympathy were received by
them. The couple yesterday related the cir
cumstances surrounding the case and at
tributed the result to 'possum hunt Of
Saturday night last in which their boys
were engaged. Fifteen colored men of the
Oxon Hill section We're also participants.
The hunters bagged no game, but when the
Williams boys returned to their dwelling
they brought with them a .3s-caiber revolt
yer, which they had borrowed from Ollie
Hatton, one Of their companions IN the
hunt 1t was not until Sunday morning that
they had an opportunity to fully examine
the revolver. Vernon Williams caught sight
of the weapon 1t rested in the trousers
pocket Of his brother. and he asked to ex
anime 1t. In the presence of Mrs. Williams,
the mother. he proceeded to do so.
Mrs. Williams demonstrated with the boys
for producing a revolver around the prem
ises. The younger son replied that il
not loaded and there was no danger. He
had hardly uttered the words before his
fingers touched the trigger and an explo-
sion Of a cartridge in the cylinder followed.
Oln Williams. standing not four feet dis
tant. pitched forward, with his hands
ciasped over the wound. and fell outside
physicians were summoned, but medical
Skill was of no avail The revolver from
which the bullet was discharged was taken
in charge yesterday by Constable William
T, Thorne. who discussed with DR.. E; P.
Simpson of Oxon Hill, Nd, what steps
should be followed In the matter. DIR. Simp-
son, In whose family Mrs. Williams has
been employed. was satisfied from her
statement that the shooting was an acct
dent and that there no ground upon
which the county authorities could act.
Vernon Williams, the boy in whose hands
the revolver was being held when il was
discharged, was described by his mother
yesterday afternoon as being half crazed
with grief over the death Of his brother.
Both boys were employed at the steel plant
at Giesboro, In the District, and have al
ways been industrious. Members of the
family called at the War Department. and
shooting. sent to Alfred N. Williams. an
other brother, who is serving in the 25th
Infantry.
The parents of the dead boy stated they
would hold the funeral tomorrow morning
at IL O'Clock from st. Pauls Methodist
Episcopal Church at Oxon Hill. Thegbody
will be Inferred in the Methodist cemetery
adjoining the church.