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