Flourishing a pistol which she believed to be unloaded, and waving it in the face of her brother who was cautioning her of the danger, Mrs. Clara Belle Kluttz pulled the trigger and the brother, Vance Wentz, dropped dead with a bullet through his forehead.
The tragedy occurred at the home of the mother of the brother and sister, Mrs. Ida Wentz in Vance township Friday night at about 9:30. Mrs. Kluttz, prostrate from the shock, is now under bond of $2,000, awaiting a hearing of the case before the Recorder on June 8.
The pistol with which the shooting was done belonged to R.B. Kluttz, and is believed to be the same one with which his brother, Doc Kluttz, is charged with having shot and killed George Chambers, Matthews mail carrier, some wees ago, and for which Doc Kluttz is now in the Union county jail awaiting trial for his life. While there is reason to believe that the same gun did the deadly work in both cases, it is not meant to imply that R.B. Kluttz had anything to do with the killing of Chambers.
Mrs. Kluttz, in whose hands this .32 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol did its second execution within a few weeks, is only 18 years old and a bride of but two weeks. Two weeks ago she was married to Mr. Kluttz. On the night of the tragedy, she was at the home of her mother, where she had been spending some days. The pistol had been carried there when she went and it was in a drawer in the room. In the room at the time were Mrs. Wentz, her daughter, Mrs. Kluttz, the son, Vance Wentz, and Dewey Yandle and Mrs. Maggie Haywood Helms.
The company had been in a cheerful mood such as might obtain on such an occasion, and perhaps had been dancing. Mrs. Kluttz took the pistol from the drawer and took out the cartridges, supposing she had emptied the chambers. She began pointing it about the room and her mother remonstrated with her, saying that it was dangerous. She replied that she had taken out the shells. Her brother, Vance Wentz, 23 years old, waled toward her and holding up his hands as if to take the pistol, said, “Don’t, don’t, that’s dangerous.”
“Shut up,” replied Mrs. Kluttz, at the same time snapping the pistol in his face. To the horror of all, the gun fired and Vance dropped with a bullet through his forehead. He died within an hour.
Stunned as they were by the bloody tragedy, the parties quickly succeeded in communicating with Monroe for medical help. Dr. Mahoney went to the home and brought the young woman to the hospital. Sheriff Fowler was summoned and went to the home and gathered the facts about the affair as they were given at the time by the eyewitnesses. He put Mrs. Kluttz under the custody of Dr. Machoney until yesterday, when she gave bond and left the hospital.
The affair appears to have been one of those cases of the empty pistol. People at times have a mania for flourishing and pointing guns which they believe to be unloaded. The custom has been so widespread that years ago the legislature passed a law making it a misdemeanor to point toward anyone with an unloaded gun. Should any case be made against her it would probably be more stringent than a charge of unintentional manslaughter coupled with criminal negligence, though the warrant is for murder
Story by Correspondent
The Journal’s correspondent at Stouts sends the following story of the unhappy occurrence:
I visited the home on the morning after the fatal occurrence. The scene was most pitiable. From incoherent explanations I gathered the following story: Several young people were visiting in the Wentz home last Friday evening. Among those who were in the parlor when the touching event took place were Mrs. Margaret Helms, Mr. Dewey Yandle, Mrs. Wentz, Mrs. Kluttz, Miss Josephine Wentz and Vance. In a spirit of fun the loaded pistol was taken from the drawer by Mrs. Kluttz. She removed five of the cartridges thinking that was all. She playfully snapped it twice. Young Vance remonstrated with her on her recklessness. She then pointed the pistol at him. He became terrified and begged her to put it up. He was said to have cried, “Oh, please don’t,” just before she fired. The bullet took effect in his temple. He fell back and his expression remained unchanged. The occupants of the room became exceedingly alarmed by the disaster and immediately ran into the hall. Mrs. Margaret Helms is to be complimented on her nerve and forethought. She alone remained with the wounded boy. Mr. Raymond Thompson was the first outsider to reach the home. He, together with Mrs. Helms, placed Vance upon the bed. He was in an unconscious condition, and he never spoke during the two hours which he lived.
Mrs. Kluttz was prostrated. She became almost violent and was rushed to the Ellen Fitzgerald hospital. Her condition remains deplorable.
Vance was the second son of the late John Wentz and Mrs. Ida Wentz. He was 24 years of age. Besides his mother the following grief-stricken brothers and sisters survive: Mr. Duke Wentz of Indian Trail, Masters Paul, Wade and Ney, young boys living with their mother. The girls are: Mrs. Will McRorie, Mrs. Clayton Yandle, and Mrs. Reese Kluttz, who live in the immediate vicinity. There is also one unmarried daughter, Miss Josephine Wentz. Vance has grown up in this community and is well-known. He is not only eulogized in the event of his death, but often in the past it has been remarked that he was unusually good to his mother. His love for her was made up of reverence, affection, and respect. He will be terribly missed; not only in the home but among a host of friends whom he always met with a smile. His disposition was jovial. He did his duty by the family with unselfishness and cheerfulness. He was his mother’s pride. She had trained him up in the right way and was reaping the reward in her son’s noble character and ideal life. Her love was near idolatry. To see her go from room to room on the morning after the tragedy was heart-rending. She said that there was not a ?? where he was not missed.
The family is one of the most prominent in the community. Great compassion is felt throughout the county and state for these horror stricken people.
The funeral and interment was held at Bethel cemetery on Saturday afternoon. An unusually large crowd was present. Rev. A.B. Haywood conducted the services assisted by Rev. Raymond Thompson. Rev. Mr. Haywood was intimately acquainted with the boy, and his praise was highly commendable. He commented upon the virtues which were embodied in young Vance, laying due emphasis on the noblest virtue which he possessed, his pure love for his mother. Brother Haywood said that the intense love of one’s mother was the love of God. Brother Vance loved God and strived to keep His commandments. Rev. Mr. Thompson was a boyhood friend of Mr. Wentz. They have played together since childhood. He spoke of Vance in a wonderful manner, and the love of friendship was strongly manifested in his speech.
From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923
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