The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-07-12
NEGRO GIRL KILLED INSTANTLY
BY CARELESS HANDLING OF GUN

Julia Williams was killed near
Bachman Chapel Thursday afternoon,
and Coroner F. M. Lindsay held the
, inquest Friday morning.
DR.. J. l. 3edenbaugh at Prosperity
certified that he had examined the
body of Julia Williams and found that
she came to her death from effect Of
gun shot wound.
The following is the report from
the inquest:
! Ida Williams, sworn, said: l heard
my boy holler and they told me that
my little girl had got shot. Julia Will
liams is my daughter. Her age is nine
years. She was lying out in the yard
when l got to the house. She was
shot in the right breast. She never
spoke. The boys, Ransom and Coley,
told me that it was an accident. They
were tussling over gun. Coley and
Ransom were in the yard when | got
there. The boys came over after me.
It was at Coley Gary's.
I Coley Gary, sworn, said: Me and
Manuel had been ditching by the side
of the road and he told me to go and
get gun to go to muskrat trap. We
looked for rats; could not find any.
He gave me the gun and went on up
the road, and | saw Ransom Williams
side of the road ditching and | came
by. Ransom asked me for a cigaret,
and | told him l did not have one,
and he said, "Come on to the house
and get one." i was making cigaret.
Gun was lying on machine. He had
the gun barrel and l had the stock
and we were tussling over the gun;
the gun went off and shot Julia Will
liams. She was sitting in chair. She
ran in yard and fell. l went over to
nv house and told Ida Williams. l
did not come back with her. for
got to take she'll out of~guiH Rance
came in and grabbed gun off the ma
chine. He and I had been partners.
Single barrel gun. Nobody here but
me and Rance and Gary and Julia:
l told Gary not to bother gun. l
knew gun was loaded, but had forgot
about it. knew gun was loaded
when told Gary not to bother gun.
Coley Gary.
Gary Williams, sworn, said: Rance
and Coley came to house. Coley put
gun on machine. Coley Gary was
making cigaret. Told Rance not to
come there where he was making
cigaret. Coley and Rance wee tus-
sling over gun; gun went Oft and MT
Julia Williams. Julia ran out OF door
and fell. I went to hollerlng and
CRYING, and my mother came to see
what was the matter.
Gary Williams this mark
Ransom Williams, sworn, said: We
were side of road. Co'ey came past
He was making cigaret, and grabbed
hold of the gun barrel. He aad /
were tussling over gun and Gun went
off Girl was sitting in cha'r-Julia
Williams is girl who was sitting IN
chair. She went out door and FELL
and Coley and / went 'yer 20 ms
house and told my mother what had
happened. 1t was Coley Gary's gun.
Colev had stock and l had ban rel. fld
not know gun was loaded. tie had
lust come from muskrat rap l CID
not ask him to take shell IL OF gun.
Ransom Williams.
The verdict of the coroner's 'rry
was that Julia Williams came to her
death from gunshot wound inflicted
bv Ransom Williams and Coley Gary
through carelessly handling of gun on
july 7, ls21-very carelessly as to
the part Of Coley Gary" The jurors
were J. A. Kinard, foreman; l.. A.
Bobb. B. B. Rikard, J. D. H. Kinard,
J. I. Boland, J. E. Long.
! Ransom Williams and Coley Carey
are l5-year-old boys. They are being
held in jail.
lumba Monday.
Mrs. Ella Blair who for some time