Arizona republican., 1919-03-12
BUY OF 12YEARS
 IN PLAY KILLS H|SbESTFR|END
Fred J. Ward, 15-Year-Old
 Son of Mrs. w. R. Ward, 1885 East Monroe, Dies of Injury Within 15 Minutes

Shot by his best friend. Fred J. Ward, 15-year-old son of Mrs W. R. Ward of 1885 East Monroe street, was almost instantly killed at 5 o'clock yes- terday afternoon by Sidney Armstrong, aged F, who declared he did not know the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger.
 The children were playing in the Ward home in the absence of Mrs. Ward when Sidney took a 3S-calibre Smith and Wesson revolver from Vallse. His companion told him the weapon was not loaded, according to Sidney's story, and in play he raised the gun and fired.
 The bullets entered the abdomen of Fred Ward. The wounded boy ran out of the house shrieking and alarmed neighbors who came at once and car ried him back into the house and sent for his mother, remaining with him. The boy was dead before she arrived however.
 Familiar With Guns
 Mrs. Ward had been at St. Joseph S hospital all day attending her daugh- ter Alice, who was operated upon yes terday morning The third child. a daughter Ellen, younger than her brother was at home and saw him killed.
 Fred was the man of the family. his father being an inmate of the state hospital. Mrs. Ward stated last even ing that the boy had been a first class shot and she frequently allowed him to go hunting with his sisters. Sidney. too. l has used firearms and had been one | of the party on frequent occasions. Immediately after the shooting. the | authorities were notified and Deputy ! Sheriff Ernest Smith. George Brisbois chief f-of-police; Jack McGrath of the | police department and Coroner Wheel CT visited the scene of the tragedy. X | coroner's jury was impaneled and will | go more fully into the circumstances ot 1 what appears to have been accidental : shooting when the inquest is held be- l fore Coroner Wheeler at 10 o'clock this ! morning.
 Tell of Tragedy
 It was a pathetic little group of nelghoors and friends who gathered in the front yard of the tiny frame cot tage which is the home of the Wards By turn of the head the small figure | stretched out on the couch could be seen through the open doorway The boy was barefooted and had on over alls, dressed as he was in play. Not twenty feet away from the dead boy stood his friend who had ended his life He was a pitiful figure as they uues- tioned him concerning the event which ended so seriously.
 The gun was on the valise I took il up and Fred told me it was not loaded just pulled the trigger and shot. Me and Fred were friends. We played to- gether. We dug caves"
 Sidney said that he and the other children played another game some. times. It was war. he stated.
 Near Neiqhbors Little Ellen Ward described how hel brother threw up his hands when h, was shot She was sure. she said. tha Sid did not know the gun was loaded Other youngsters there at the time tolC practically the same story.
 Charles Merkle was the man wht cared for Fred after he had been shot He said he saw the child run out in tn, yard calling to Sidney 10 come back.
 Sidney is the only son of MT. anC Mrs l. A. Armstrong who live on Six teenth street, about three blocks iron the Ward home. All the children O the neighborhood play together. an, Sidney and Fred were particular, friendly.