The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-24
DEATH ACCIDENTAL,
CORONER'S VERDICT
Young Healey Exonerated
From Blame in Killing of
Joseph Colliflower.
BOTH THE FAMILIES
ARE FRUSTRATED
Lad Was Playing With Pistol He
Didn't Know Was
Loaded"

Accidental homicide was the verdict
OF the Coroner this morning, but no
clearance Of blame can ever assuage the
dumb grief OF Robert HeaIey, nine years
old, who shot and killed Joseph Coli
flower. seventeen years old, while play.
fully pointing an old revolver at the
Collihower home last evening.
Young Harvey is under the care Of a
physician at his home. sos South Capt.
tol street, who fears that the boy VIII
lose his reason. Mrs. Healey. who was
visiting at the COllihower home when
the shooting occurred. is also suffering
from the effects OF the tragedy. which
has cast its shadow over every member
OF the household.
At.the CoIiiiower home this morning
no word could be obtained Of the fam
IFS. Mrs Coniaower Is utterly prostrat-
ed and has a physician constantly by
her side. The dead boys father and his
brother are in a condition almost as
bad as the mother.
The Tragedy.
The tragedy that plunged TWO families
into the deepest grief occurred shortly
after O'Clock last evening in Joseph
CoIinower's room on the second floor
OF his home, 1856 Tennessee avenue north
east.
Mrs. Healey and her son were calling
at the CollifiOwer home. Ine women
were sitting on the front lawn taking
and the boys had gone up 10 NouhS
ColiidoWer's room to look over some
cu~ios he had promised TO show Heaiey.
Assisted by his elder brother. George
Joseph unpacked a trunk and took from
the bottom two reyolvers Wnicn ne
handed to Healey- One OF the weapons
was unloaded and one had cSrtTlcse
a. .-f4u f1rr-
had not been used for years
= Healey handled the weapons ana laio
them down to look at something elss-
he picked up one of the reviewers again
under the impression that he had Sc
cured the,One that was empty. Win
boyish cry he pointed the gun ~ Joseph
COllifiower and pulled the uleseI -.
The loud explosion or q nedEtt5 CdLl-
her cartridge followed and Healey drop
ped the revolver and ran screaInl lliS
from the room Joseph Collinower zen
WITH bullet through his right breast
Healey ran 10 his mother VINO: W.. Mn
Mr.. and Mrs. Collifiower rushed into
the house ard started upstairs.
Brother In His Arms.
They found George Conihower holding
IN. unconscious form OF his brother IN
his arms. An ambulance from the Cas-
,,sltv Hospital WAS summoned and when
q arrived the surgeon IN charge, after
quick examination. ordered the boy re-
moved 20 the hospital ar rapidly as pos
slblIe. He told Mr.. Collinower he did
not believe the young man would sur
vive but that everything possible would
be done for him.
George CollifoweT carried the DYING
hoy TO the ambulance and held him dur
ing the hurried ride TO the hospital
lust before the ambulance stopped, Jo-
seph whispered something which could
not be understood by those in the am
bulauCe- When the attendants came 70
remove the boy into the hospital he was
The police were notified Of the tragedy
Immediately and made an investigator
Of the anafr. George Collifiower. who
witnessed the shooting. told what he
had seen and excnerated young Healey
from blame Tire police decldeu 10 let
she disposition Of the affair rest witt
the coroner who made his invesJiga-
ton this morning
Issues Certificate.
After reviewing the facts Coroner
hewitt issued a certificate OF death
from accidental homicide
Robert c. FIealey, father of the boy
who did the shooting, was absent from
the city. but has been summoned by
telegraph and will arrive today
Joseph CoUihower was a manly boy
who llao many lrlehds- lie was mem
Der OF The cadet corps Of Gonzags Col
leee and was one Of the Leaders In
sports as we'll as In his studies His
death has paralyzed his family. In the
IfeaIey home conditions are almost
The same. Mrs. Healey and Robert are
both under the care of a physician
This IS the second case Of this kind
that has occurred within the last six
months. The first case was at the
Western High School where two life-
long friends and comrades were the
PARTIES to the tragedy.