Joke Turns Deadly, Feb. 26, 1920

From The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Thursday afternoon, February 26, 1920

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.