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Show Fayette Boy Is Killed When Gun Explodes Fourth of July Accident Causes Instant Death of 13-Year-Old Boy-Playmate Held Blameless. never touched and finally was cast to ihe junk pile, where it lay until rescued res-cued by the boys last Sunday after-on after-on Nearly forty caps had been exploded by the hoys before the gun was discharged. It is thought that r.he rust had clogged the primer and that the constant firing of -the caps by the boys had cleared the way, thus allowing a spark to reach the powder just as "Ellis was peering down the barrel of the gun. The tragedy is the first of its kind to happen in Fayette for years and a gloom has been cast over the entire community. Both mothers of the boys are prostrated with grief, and reports re-ports from the bedside of Mrs. James, mother to the boy who was playing with Ellis, is to the effect that her condition is quite serious. Ellis Bartholomew, while only 13 years old, was strong and very indus-'.rious, indus-'.rious, and was. loved and admired by dl. He has several brothers and sisters sis-ters and a devoted mother who are grief-stricken over the untimely ending. end-ing. Earl James, the companion and 'pal" of Ellis, is deeply effected over the tragedy. Funeral services over the remains ;of the unfortunate boy were held at Fayette Tuesday evening. It was one of the most impressive ever held in Ellis Bartholomew, the 13-year-old Bon of Mrs. Amasa Bartholomew of Fayette, was instantly killed last Sunday afternoon about 4 o'clock when a gun, which was supposed to he without powder or shot in it, was discharged. The young man's eye was blown out and a big tiole torn in Ihe right side of the face and head. The death of Ellis was purely accidental acci-dental and his playmate, Earl James. 11 years old, who pulled the trigger, not knowing the gun was loaded, is not blamed. Sunday the two boys were celebrating celebrat-ing the Fourth of July and had secured se-cured paper caps as a method of iioise-making. Securing an old muzzle-loading shotgun from a pile of Junk, the youngsters used it for the purpose of exploding the caps. After .'several caps had been exploded, Ellis climbed on the fender of an automobile, auto-mobile, saying he would see if the sparks from the caps showed in the barrel of the gun. As Ellis was peering peer-ing down the barrel of the gun, the James boy pulled the trigger when the gun exploded, the entire charge taking effect in the right side of the head of the Bartholomew boy. Dr. Hagan was immediately summoned, but death was instantaneous. The gun which caused the death of (Ellis Bartholomew was .one that had not been used for years, and no one knew that it was loaded. Last fall the fcun was taken to a blacksmith shop for repairs. For some reason it was Fayette, and practically the entire populace attended the last sad rites. The services were held at the cemetery ceme-tery and the casket was banked with beautiful floral tributes, tokens of admiring friends and relatives. |