Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-17
COMPLETE MAROON REGULAR TEAM ON GRID TOMORROW TOGE
WOMEN CAN SHOOT AS WELL
AS MEN, SAYS ANNIE OAKLEY
WRITTEN BY ANNIE OAKLEY
(National Sports Syndicate Service)

no conscience about the law. AS
he knows that most people are law
abiding, and the element of danger
is greatly lessened for him.
have always advocated that chill
dren should be taught the careful
use of firearms. They are quick to
tearn. They almost invariably get
enthusiastic about the sport OF it. L
have a boy of mind who had never
had q shotgun in his hand before
last August. Within a week, after q
little painstaking coaching, he was
able to score nineteen out of twenty
five clay birds. He is only eleven
years of age. If he started the sport
later in life he would have spent
years of labor and a great deal OF
money to attain anything like this
success, and might never have gain
ed the form" that he already shows.
Not only have l successfully taught
thousands of men, women and chill
dren, but 1 have been called upon to
make many practical suggestions to
policemen and others whose work
partly consists in guarding the pub
lie by the use of firearms. Take for
instance the police department of
New York City, and Newark. N. j.
They are both working under regu-
lation that 1 gave to the chief of
police of each of those cities.
About seven years ago police
man in Newark and two others in
New York were killed by letting
their revolvers fall, accidently. I
suggested a plan which 1 had adopt
ed for myself to avoid the danger or
such an accident; that was, to load
only five chambers, leaving the sixth
10 nd NfxT
| 1 believe other cities have adopted
the same regulation.
Saved Man From Being Hanged
Automatic revolvers are exceed
ingly dangerous, and everyone should
| be taught their use before they are
permitted to use them. A friend of
mine, and one of the best amateur
shots in this country, was killed
when his automatic dropped to the
sidewalk and exploded a cartridge
as he was alighting from his auto
mobile in front of his home.
My knowledge of firearms once
helped to acquit an innocent man
of a murder charge. A circus rider
named Sholes, was accused of kill
ing a bartender at Long Branch, N.
| j. The trial was held at Freehold,
| N. J. 1 was called as an expert.
1t was brought out in the testi-
mony that Sholes had entered the
saloon, called for drink, and claim
ed to have thrown his revolver on
the bar to pay for 1t, as he had no
money. His lawyers further claimed
that when he threw the pistol OH
the bar it exploded and killed his
friend. The State claimed that he
killed the bartender and took the
drinks he wanted. There were no
witnesses, and it was a pure case of
circumstantial evidence.
The decision hinged on whether
or not an automatic pistol thrown on
ed the bartender. l demonstrated
this easily by loading an automatic,
and dropping it, that It could. I
loaded the automatic with blank
cartridges and made the demon
stration in the courtroom. The cir
Gus rider was acquitted. He came
to me afterward, gratefully thanked
me, and assured me that the man
who was killed was the best friend
he had in the world. I was satis-
fled that had been the means of
saving a man from being branded as
a murderer, and suffering the ex-
treme penalty of the law.
Rifle Range in Every School
| IL mas always Deen my COnIenIlOu
that boys and girls should be taught
the use of firearms. 1t would be
ideal If every schoolhouse could
have a rifle range, with a competent
instructor in charge.
While manv people have a fair
knowledge of shooting, very few
know how to care for the pieces
they use. Beginners are forever
putting pieces out of commission.
If children were taught how to
handle them so as to avoid danger,
there would be fewer accidents in
the world, especially the "I-didn't-
-was-loaded" kind.
And If women and young girls
would take up the practice and gain
the skill, which requires but little
effort. they would add to their happi-
ness by falling in love with one of
the finest outdoor sports.