New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-26
Gun Explodes as He Tries
to Club Raccoon Near
Georgia Estate
Youth Dies in Arms
Of His Companion
Brush Discharges Trigger OF
Weapon-Often Care
less, Say Friends

hTunSNINhg VA NNf
Gould, jr., elder son of Edwin Eoulu,
New York capitalist and heir to part OF
the ssOooO 900 estate left by the late
Law Gould, accidentally shot and killed
himself late yesterday afternoon while
hunting raccoons on the Latham HAM
mock. game preserve a few miles
from the Goulds' big winter home on
Iekyl Island, off the Georgia coast.
While tramping over the preserve
with his friend, Noyes Reynolds OF
New York, who is the guest on Jekyl
Island of Tracy Dows, young Gould dis
covered a trapped raccoon OF unusual
size, which was suffering greatly from
foot that had been torn in the trap
Wishing to put the animal out OF It's
misery, he seized his shotgun by the
barrel and commenced to club the
creature with the butt. Twice he missed
the sauirming animal AS he struck
the third time the trigger caught IN
the brush, discharging the gun and
Sendlng It's entire iodo lHCo ms si''
Dies in Few Minutes
Reynolds, who was only few feet
away from young Gould, caught his
companions head up from the ground
and held him until death came. Life
lasted only few minutes.
After becoming convinced that his
friend was beyond aid Reynolds hurried
10 the canoe in which the pair had
come from Jekyl Island. He padded
frnntically back 20 the millionaire col
ony, a trip of two hours or more, for
aid. A party that was at once organ
ized to recover the body reached the
scene of the accident late at night and
returned TO Jekyl Island at midnight.
Friends who had accompanied Gould
on former shooting expeditions assert
that he was hsbitually careless and
often went about with his gun cooked.
On a previous occasion he narrowly
missed serious injury when his weapon
was accidentally discharged.
Had Been Recuperating
Young Gould had been at Jekyl Isl
and for month, recuperating from a
recent illness. His father had arrived
at the Gould winter home about week
ago with Colonel Nelson Burr. of New
York. but on Friday mad gone to st.
Augustine. Fla, for short visit. On
being notified Of his sons death he
wired TO his New York lawyer, David
n. Taylor, instructing him to make
arrangements for the reception of the
body, which he ordered shipped North
in the family's private car, Dixie.
The funeral train left here this af-
ternoon and will arrive in New York
Monday afternoon. Mr.. Gould met it
At Savannah, and other New York
friends who are at Southern resorts
are to join it en- route. Many social
events planned by the Jekyl Island
colony have been cancelled, as young
Gould was exceedingly popular with
the winter eolonists.
Edwin Gould, jr., was twenty-three
years old. His younger brother, Frank
~. is now a freshman at Yale.
Young Gould had been tutoring for
bar examinations. but recently an
nounced his intention Of going into the
employ Of the Guaranty Trust Com
p2ny next year. He had never attended
college, although at one time he
planned 70 enter Harvard. While pre-
pairing for that university he ran away
from Pomfret School, at Pomfret Cen
ire, Conn.
Mother Shocked by News
The news OF his death was a shock
% his mother, who is at the Gould
summer home at Ardsley. She had
been expecting TO join him at Jekyl
Island as soon as the health of her
mother, Mrs. George F. Shrady, widow
Of the distinguished surgeon, at pres
ent recovering from pneumonia, should
permit. Members of the Gould family
and David n. Taylor, OF 227 West Sew
entieth Street, Mr.. Gould's lawyer,
spent most Of yesterday at the Gould
home.
The meagre reports Of the accident
which reached this city were confirmed
Yesterday morning, when Mr.. Taylor
communicated b. telephone with the
manager Of the club a. Jekyl Island, 10
which young Gould had moved from
The family house when his father left
for S. Augustine.
Az soon ~ the body reaches New
lork Il will be taken 20 the Gould town
house. At 936 Fifth Avenue, where
funeral services will be held.