Smith - Ed - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Go to content

Smith - Ed


Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal, Dec. 26, 1893

Ed Smith, of near Ladoga, instantly killed by a companion's   gun. A very sad tragedy directly resultant from the careless   handling of a firearms occurred yesterday afternoon near Ladoga,   the victim being Ed Smith, a 16-year-old boy residing about a mi.   e. of the town. He in company with Frank Brady, a young man   residing in Ladoga, went hunting yesterday and in the afternoon   being tired by their tramp over field and wood climbed upon a   fence to rest. Finally in a playful manner young Brady pushed   Smith off his perch. He arose and tried to dislodge Brady who   poked his loaded gun out in front of him. The Smith boy very   thoughtlessly seized hold of the muzzle and gave it a jerk,   expecting no doubt that he would in this manner pull Brady off   the fence and "get even." Just how it happened is not positively   known but the hammer was probably caught in Brady's clothing and   the gun discharged. The muzzle was pressed close to Smith's body   at the time and unfortunate youth received the entire large load   of shot in his abdomen. He fell over and expired almost   instantly. His wound was a frightful one and the poor lad   probably never realized what hurt him. His grief stricken   companion hastened for assistance and the body of the victim was   tenderly carried to his home  a sad and tragic Christmas offering. The coroner was   immediately summoned from New Ross to hold an inquest. Again the   question of the careless handling of firearms is presented by an   awful object lesson. one life has been put out forever and   another darkened by a tragedy which will always and before it   saddening and rendering bitter for it the brightest and most   gladsome holiday in all the calendar. = transcribed and submitted by Karen Bazzani Zach
Back to content