The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-04-05
DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT.

DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT.
THE UNLoADED PISTOL AGAIN GETS IN
ITS DEADLY WORK.
Vernon ElIzey Shot by Jimmie Morris While
Playing Robbers Numerous Violent
Deaths in the Same Building.
On Monday afternoon about o'clock
young Vernon Ellzey, eldest son Of Mr..
and Mrs. c. F. Ellzey, was shot by an.
other boy, Jimmie Morris, while playing
with pistols in the bicycle repair shop of
Mr.. Buist Brickle On lower Main street.
Ellzey was about fourteen years old,
while Morris is not quite twelve.
It was all the result of playing robbers,
and the play took Unexpectedly the form
of deepest tragedy; truly the comedy
gave way to the tragic element. There
were no heroes, there were none intend
ed, alas, they were all actors taking
costly roles. 1t was brought out at the
coroner's inquest which was held very
very soon after the occurrence, that Yer
non Ellzey, his younger brother, Donnie,
and Jimmie Morris, were sitting around
in Mr.. Brickle's shop, Morris counting
some money; suddenly the idea of play
ing robber bandits occurred to- Donnie.
The Ellzey boys were to be the hold.ups,
and Jimmie was to be the victim and lose
his money, all of course was to be "play-
like" Jimmie is truly one victim, but
not the kind planned in the play; Vernon
is dead, truly it was simple play with a
sad ending. Weapons placed in the shop
for repair we're handy for the play, and
each participant had his weapon, and
as the plans were being carried out, the
accidental discharge of Morris's pistol
brought all to an abrupt, heart-rending
end. The bullet struck young Ellzey in
the mouth and caused death almost in.
stantly.
The report of the pistol was followed
by the immediate rushing out Of the
building of little Jimmie Morris who was
stricken with terror and grief, hard
enough for man to have to endure, how
much more little lad not yet in his
teens. A crowd quickly gathered, and
there for them to gaze upon, lay the body
of.Vernon Ellzey, 80 soon to be cold in
death; by his side the revolver with
which he had played, near by the one
which Morris had held with an empty
shell in the smoking weapon, all of
which told much stronger tale than
any words can tell. The little brother
who had proposed the play, crying for
the departed spirit Of his brother to
come back, sobbing as only child in
sorrow can. And there soon the father
looked upon his boy, the pride of his
heart, with great tears in his eyes; but
sadder than all, the mother.
And little Jimmie Morris, his is no
small grief, for in his heart he bears the
sad consciousness that his is life which
must ever feel dark cloud hanging over
it.
The coroners inquest was held in the
sheriff's Office after the jury had viewed
the body. There the evidence was
brought out, Donnie Ellzey being the
only eye witness save Morris. Morris
told Mr.. N. B. Fielder how it had ell hap
pened, and this was repeated by MIR.
Fielder at the inquest. The jury returned
a verdict saying the deceased came to his
death from gunshot wounds in the hand
of Jimmie Morris. Little Morris is in
Jail at present.
The pistol was a blue steel weapon, 80
calibre, and had been left in the shop
during the absence of Mr.. Brickle, who
had gone to Denmark to attend a game
of base ball.
The funeral services were held at the
Simmons burial ground on Railroad ave-
nue. where the interment took place
Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock. Rev.
Peter Stokes, pastor of the Methodist
church, conducted the services. The
pail bearers were Messrs. Roy NJ. Bruce,
NJ. E. Aver, Fred W. Free, Clarence
Free, N. B. Fielder, Albion Kirsch. Many
flowers were placed upon the grave by
the large concourse of relatives and
friends who were present.
This event has cast gloom over the
entire community, no event of such sad
nature has occurred here for years, and
the bereaved ones have the sympathy OF
all the town.
It is stated by some that the building
in which this event happened has been
the scene of some seven or eight deaths,
some place it even as high as twelve. The
hand of Jealous fate seems to be abid-
ing on this building. Mr.. G. A. Ducker