The Washington herald., 1909-07-07

Louisa Moore. aged ten years. was acci-
dentaliy shot and almost instantly killed
last night while playing on the perch Of
q house near Kensington. with three com
panions, when a -22-caliber rife was dis
charged. the bullet entering her neck
just below the left ear The jugular vein
was severed. and the child bled 10 death
in less than two minutes.
The accident Is the most tragic that has
occurred near Kensington IN years Near
Iy every resident IN the suburb knew OF
st an hour after the girls death. Ex-
pressions OF sympathy for the bereaved
mother were heard on every hand.
The deceased girl was the only child
Of Mrs Everett Moore. a widow. living
at 1926 Tenth street northwest About
two weeks ago the girl was accompanied
by her mother 10 the home Of J. W.
Wndman. who lives in Rockville road, a
short distance from Kensington. Mrs.
Moore has known Mr.. Wildman and his
wife for years.
Mrs. Moore stopped with the family for
a few days. and then returned to Wash
ingtOn. leaving her daughter in the eoun-
Try. II was planned to allow Louisa 10
spend her vacation IN the suburb. The
child made friends among the children
OF nelghbors, and her charming man
ncrs won her the admiration Of the older
persons.
Mr.. and Mrs. WIdman, their son
Mason. and Louisa ate supper together
last night about $50 o'clock. After the
meal the children went on the front
veran6a, where they were joined by
Bernice sheehan, eleven years old. son
Of Donald sheehan, who lives near the
Wildman home: and by Eugene saneI,
twelve years old, who lives at Twelfth
and streets northwest
The children had been shooting al
target in the afternoon with a rife owned
by Bernice Shechan. When the boy re-
turned from supper he carried the rifle.
The boy did not know that one OF his
companions had thOughtlessly put a car
fridge in the gun.
Swinging I'm a Hammock.
The children were swinging IN a ham
mock stretched across one end OF IL
veranda when Louisa jumped up and
started to run into the house. Bernice
Shetland held the weapon in his hands.
and the gun was discharged at the in
stant the girl ran IN front Of the muzzle.
There was an unexpected explosion, and
Louisa fell TO the floor Of the veranda
with a slight scream.
The boys were dazed- The Sheehan lad |
was the first 10 realize what had hap
pened- He ran into the house crying:
oh Mr.. Wildman, something awful |
has happened"
Wildman was sitting in the dining-room /
with his wife He ran TO the porch and /
found the girl lying face downward. A 1
glance at the wound showed Widman |
the child was dying.
He jerked handkerchief from HIS /
pocket and tried 10 stop the flow OF /
blood, calling to his wife to telephone for
doctor. Mrs. Wndman notified Dr.
William L. Lewis, whose home is about
a mile from the Wudman house. DR..
Lewis drove the distance In a carriage
IN fast time, but he was too late.
When Mrs Wrdman returned 70 the
---7 ~----- l-AI NDALA AL-L uA1uAl4Q 70 place
his finger in the wound, as DR.. Lewis
directed. Wildman followed this advice.
but the girl had lost so much strength
that the effort was Of no avail. Less
than two minutes after the shot was fired
she died without regaining consciousness.
Mother Is Notified.
Or. Lewis arrived in short time and
pronounced life extinct Wndman called
friends OF Mrs. Moore over the telephone
and asked that the news be broken 70 the
mother. John r. Wright, undertaken. a
friend. drove to the Tenth street house
and told Mrs. Moore Of the death Of her
daughter. The mother collapsed. She
was revived and assisted to the automo-
bile. With Mr.. Wright driving. the trip
TO the Wildman home was made IN record
tine.
Magistrate John c. Cissel. who lives at
Wheaton, near Kensington. had been no
titled. An inquest was held over the
body. A verdict Of death due to a wound
caused by a rife ball accidentally fred
was returned by the jury. The body was
turned over 10 relatives FOR burial No
ARRANGEMENTS have been made Tor tba !