South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-01
Alfred WintheT. Son of Mr..
and Mrs. Carl Winther, is
Killed by Ernest Reynolds al
672 LapOrte av.
BOYS WERE SHOOTING
FROM SECOND FLOOR
Howard Pittman Turns Rifle
Over to Young Reynolds
Who Claims Gun Was Acct
IDENTIFY Discharged.

Alfred Winther. three years and II
months old. son Of Mr.. and Ms. Carl
Winther. 672 Laporte av.. was killed
Monday afternoon at 4:S0 o'clock in
his own back yard by a % cahbre
rifle ball fired by Ernest Reynolds 10
years old. 1919 Linden az. from the
second floor Of a house
The young boy was about 10 enter
the house when hit by the bullet. He
cried ouJ and ran towards the house
The mother heard the cry and i'm
mediately rushed 10 the boy only 10
have him die in her arms.
In the meantime young Reynolds.
who had been visiting Howard Pitt
man. IA years olo. ran 10 his home
but not finding anyone there pro-
Ceeded TO his sisters home on Pagen
st The police found him there and
took him TO the county jail where ne
Will be held pending the inquest 10
be held by Coroner Swantz.
Boy Makes Statement.
Young Reynolds made a statement
as TO the shooting 10 Coroner Swantz
and Miss Anderson. matron. at the
Jail. he said that il was all an ac-
cident and the testimony Of young
Pittman corroborated him.
Il was holding the gun for How
ard" he said. He had started TO
cook some supper. We had been
shooting rats and we saw one just
before Howard left. Howard called
10 me and i turned around and as I
did So. the trigger was pressed and
the gun went of.
When 1 heard the boy CRY. I hur-
vi.
! found nobody at home and went
over 10 my big sisters on Pagen 81.
Then the police came and got me-"
Young Pittman told the same sort
OF the story The tive boys had been
separated after the shooting and did
not get to see each other before they
were questioned about the accident
The bullet pierced the baby's heart
and death resulted within a few min
utes. The mother barely had time 10
get TO her baby before he was dead.
The boy was in direct range Of the
bullet ant ii penetrated his body.
According 10 the statements Of the
two boys. they had been shooting rats
all afternoon after returning from a
swimming trip. They had killed a
few previous 10 the accident
Young Pittman had a line on one
rat. but IL ran back under the house
He was waiting for IL 10 appear again
when he decided 10 cook some sup
per for the two. He turned the gun
over TO the Reynolds boy and was
gone only a short time before the
baby below was killed.
The mother carried the lifeless body
Of her baby 10 the house and tried 10
bring il back 10 life. The neighbors
heard the shot and the scream and
hurried 10 her assistance Medical
aid was summoned as quickly as
possible but IL was unavailing as the
boy had been dead for some time
IL was some time before the neigh
bors could convince the mother that
the baby was dead. The father who
IS employed at the Muessel brewery.
was notified OF the accident and hur-
ried TO the home. He stated thar
ne had often seen the Pittman bov
playing with the rifle around the
house and that the two lads had
been in the habit OF shooting rats
which seemed 10 be rather thick about
the place
The funeral Will be held Wednesday
afternoon al ( O'Clock. Rev Albert
II. keck viii Officiate Burial will be
in the city cemetery.
Both Reynolds and Pittman viii be
held pending the coroner's INQUEST
They were taken to the county iaII
following the arrival of the police on
the scene.
The funeral viii be held Wednes-
day afternoon az o'clock from the
residence. Rev. Albert Keck oficiaf-
ing Burial viii be in the city cems-