Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
ASSERTS KILLING
WAS ACCIDENTAL
Clyde Woodward, IL, Says He
Shot Harry Wells, IL,
While Fooling.

st. Adams. Oct 1s.--The advisabiiity
Of calling a special session of the
grand jury in Franklin county court
to consider the matter of the shooting
of Harry Wells, aged II years. at his
home in Enosburg last Wednesday
morning by his cousin. Clyde Wood
ward, II years old, IL under considera-
ton by the authorities here, but States
Attorney W. r. McFeeters has received
no decision yet from Judge Waterman.
At the Franklin county Jail this
morning the secret inquest before Judge
Post begun at the Wells home yester-
day. was resumed.
In Enosburg Falls, where the body
was taken yesterday afternoon, an au-
topsy was held to-day by DR.. c. r.
whitney Of Burlington. DR.. c. g.
Abell of Enosburg Falls was present
also.
The Woodward boy, who was brought
to the jail by train at four o'clock yes
terday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff H.
H. Best Of Enosburg Falls, sticks to
his story that the shooting was acct
dental. He says that he and his cousin
Harry Wells. were left by themselves
when his uncle. Henry Wells and SON.
George, left about six O'Clock Wednes-
day morning to go to work
Harry and ! did the housework and
after I had been out doors to get -four
pals Of water he wanted me to play. He
| took a shotgun and took a revolver that
belonged to George. 1t was n revolver
had bought early last summer in Rich
ford. but a few weeks ago I sold It t.
George. Before he left in the morning
George told mo the revolver was loaded
but / forgot about II. went into tn,
! yo otn hv hA cta 10
way. He kept making believe to shoot HI
came into the pantry and as he did so
pulled the trigger of the revolver. Their,
was no shell. Harry went out Of tn,
pantry. but in a minute came back II
hollering. 1t was in play. of course. but 1
scared me and pulled the trigger of tn
revolver. AS l did the shotgun droppe,
from Harry's hand and he fell over side
ways, striking his head on a table.
thought he wasn't dead and probably
could make him come to. but / couldn't
Then took a wet cloth. washed his hea,
and dragged him out into the kitchen.
was scared mad 1 went out and dug
grave, put Harry's body in a canvas ten
and dragged him to the fence. Then 1 car
ried him on my shoulder a little ways t
the grave and buried him. l had throw
the revolver down a bank before touche
him.
after I had buried him l got the re
volver and put 1t under sod. Harry
boots fell of in the garden and took on
Of them and his cap which I went to tn
house to get and hid them under a ston
pile. The other boot 1 hid in the brush
I went to Charles Dutchman's and toll
him Harry was lost. That was about te
in the morning. l went into the wood
to try to find my uncle. but didn't find hin
About half past one went back to tn
woods and that time found him. H
rame and began to hunt. We telephone
to several places. Late in the afterno
Leon King. who was at the house, toll
me I had better tell the truth and toll
. him just what happened. Afterward tn
officers came and told them the sam
, thing
The boy says he and Harry had no aual
rel and had not been playing over qual
ter of an hour when the accident occurred
The boy did not make sound after h
was shot. Clyde took the canvas bac
to the house. There was no blood on II
in fact. the boy bled very little. The sho
gun. Clyde says, was not loaded.
, When asked II he was worried abol
himself now the lad replied. Yes. II
worried. but 1t was just an accident.
didn't do it a-purpose. I liked Harry an
we played together every day whe
Henry and George were away"