Vester Dennis Accidentally
Kills His Brother, Velt, in Steele’s Township Saturday Night. . . Tragic Death
A tragic death occurred in Steele’s township Saturday night,
wherein one brother accidentally shot his brother, tearing the youth’s head
almost completely off. The brother who so carelessly and heedlessly handled the
shot-gun is, of course, overcome by his unintentional act—but that does not
bring back the life of a stalwart young man.
Coroner A.M. Smith was called to Steele’s township, near
Mangum, Sunday to investigate the killing. He empanelled the following as a
jury: T.B. Andrews, H.H. Chandler, D.M. Ross, D.N. Currie, W.C. Lisk, W.C. Jarrell.
After hearing the evidence, the jury returned this verdict: “that
Velt Dennis came to his death by a gun-shot wound from the hands of his
brother, Vester Dennis, by accident through carelessly handling the gun.”
The facts as brought out at the hearing were in substance as
follows:
Vester Dennis, aged 22, works at a saw-mill in Steele’s
township, and Saturday afternoon his brother, Velt Dennis, aged 17, came over
from Stanly county to take him home. They were to go home Sunday early. A party
was held at J.F. Staton’s and along towards midnight Velt Dennis and Charlie
Jarrell decided to walk up to W.C. Jarrell’s store or commissary and get some
coco-cola. (how it was actually spelled) After
they left the house, Vester Dennis, Nash Jarrell and Homer Lisk make up a plan
to scare the boys. Accordingly, Vester blacked his face, so the report is, and
went up to the road to “waylay” the returning boys. As Velt and Charlie neared
them, Vester threw up his shot-gun and ordered them to halt and give up the
ale. Charlie ran, but Velt held his ground, remarking to the boys “you needn’t
try to scare me; I know you.” To this Charlie Jarrell says Vester replied, “No,
you don’t. You are a d--- liar.” And with that the gun fired, the load taking
off the top of Velt’s head and killing him instantly. The testimony is that the
entire crowd were in good humor, and Vester states that he was trying to fire
over his brother’s head in an effort to scare him and that he didn’t mean to
hit him; that his finger touched the trigger evidently before he raised the gun
high enough. Immediately after Velt fell, Vester exclaimed “My God. I’ve shot
my brother,” and ran to him, but he was dead.
Though the evidence adduced shows that this was an accident,
yet it should be a warning to other young men to cut out the rough joking. Life
is too serious a matter to be trifled with.
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