Leo Claudius Skinner Obituary published in Litchfield Paper July 8, 1940:
Conduct rites L. Skinner Rifle Victim
Believe Stumbled Over Gun in Barn
Funeral services for Leo Claudius Skinner, 40, accidentally killed by the discharge from a rifle at his home, two miles north of Litchfield, Saturday afternoon, were conducted this afternoon at the Gerit Funeral Home. Rev. H. P. Lovik, pastor of First Baptist Church, was in charge and interment was in Raymond Cemetery.
A jury empanelled at the funeral home Saturday night by Deputy Coroner D. K. Gordon returned a verdict of accidental death from a wound in the head from a caliber .22 short rifle bullet.
Ray Skinner, Jr., 12, a nephew of the decedent, who was alone with Mr. Skinner at the farm residence north of Litchfield on the Black Diamond Trail, was the only witness. Mrs. Skinner, accompanied by her children and Mr. Skinner's brother, Ray Skinner of O'Fallon, and wife who had arrived that morning had gone to St. Francis Hospital to get Mrs. Skinner's father, Mr. McCart, and left Ray, Jr., at home with his uncle.
The boy told the jury that his uncle left the house about 2:30 o'clock, telling him he was going into the yard. When his uncle did not return after a short time, he said he called and whistled and getting no answer went in search. He said he looked in the basement part of the barn and continued his search over the yard for a time before he returned to the barn and found his uncle on the main floor lying across the tongue of a corn planter. He said his parents and his aunt drove into the yard at the same time and he called to them. Dr. L. G. Allen was summoned but pronounced Mr. Skinner dead on his arrival. The discharge entered his right temple.
Mr. Skinner had kept the rifle at the barn to kill rats, relatives stated. It is believed that he stumbled over the rifle causing it to be discharged. Members of the jury were W. F. Morgan, Thomas Tibbs, Ted Meier, Ernest Felkel, T. W. Lynn and A. L. Harmon.
Mr. Skinner was a son of Alonzo and Sina Oller Skinner, and was born on a farm near Hillsboro, February 26, 1900. His entire life had been lived in Montgomery County. In earlier years he was engaged in farming, but for the last 16 years, excepting short intervals, he had been employed at the American Radiator plant here. He was united in marriage with Miss Nelle McCart of Raymond on May 4, 1931. To the union were born three children, Dorothy Lee, 8, Max Allen, 4, and Melba Joan, 2, who survive with their mother.
He also leaves his mother of North Litchfield and eight brothers and sisters, Ray Skinner, O'Fallon; Mrs. Bessie Fogleman, North Litchfield; Miss Mabel Skinner, Mrs. Stella Bowles, Miss Dora Skinner, Ralph Skinner and Russell Skinner, all of Litchfield, and Paul Skinner of Walshville. His father preceded him in death July 12, 1924, and a sister died in infancy.
Conduct rites L. Skinner Rifle Victim
Believe Stumbled Over Gun in Barn
Funeral services for Leo Claudius Skinner, 40, accidentally killed by the discharge from a rifle at his home, two miles north of Litchfield, Saturday afternoon, were conducted this afternoon at the Gerit Funeral Home. Rev. H. P. Lovik, pastor of First Baptist Church, was in charge and interment was in Raymond Cemetery.
A jury empanelled at the funeral home Saturday night by Deputy Coroner D. K. Gordon returned a verdict of accidental death from a wound in the head from a caliber .22 short rifle bullet.
Ray Skinner, Jr., 12, a nephew of the decedent, who was alone with Mr. Skinner at the farm residence north of Litchfield on the Black Diamond Trail, was the only witness. Mrs. Skinner, accompanied by her children and Mr. Skinner's brother, Ray Skinner of O'Fallon, and wife who had arrived that morning had gone to St. Francis Hospital to get Mrs. Skinner's father, Mr. McCart, and left Ray, Jr., at home with his uncle.
The boy told the jury that his uncle left the house about 2:30 o'clock, telling him he was going into the yard. When his uncle did not return after a short time, he said he called and whistled and getting no answer went in search. He said he looked in the basement part of the barn and continued his search over the yard for a time before he returned to the barn and found his uncle on the main floor lying across the tongue of a corn planter. He said his parents and his aunt drove into the yard at the same time and he called to them. Dr. L. G. Allen was summoned but pronounced Mr. Skinner dead on his arrival. The discharge entered his right temple.
Mr. Skinner had kept the rifle at the barn to kill rats, relatives stated. It is believed that he stumbled over the rifle causing it to be discharged. Members of the jury were W. F. Morgan, Thomas Tibbs, Ted Meier, Ernest Felkel, T. W. Lynn and A. L. Harmon.
Mr. Skinner was a son of Alonzo and Sina Oller Skinner, and was born on a farm near Hillsboro, February 26, 1900. His entire life had been lived in Montgomery County. In earlier years he was engaged in farming, but for the last 16 years, excepting short intervals, he had been employed at the American Radiator plant here. He was united in marriage with Miss Nelle McCart of Raymond on May 4, 1931. To the union were born three children, Dorothy Lee, 8, Max Allen, 4, and Melba Joan, 2, who survive with their mother.
He also leaves his mother of North Litchfield and eight brothers and sisters, Ray Skinner, O'Fallon; Mrs. Bessie Fogleman, North Litchfield; Miss Mabel Skinner, Mrs. Stella Bowles, Miss Dora Skinner, Ralph Skinner and Russell Skinner, all of Litchfield, and Paul Skinner of Walshville. His father preceded him in death July 12, 1924, and a sister died in infancy.
Leo Claudius Skinner Obituary published in Litchfield Paper July 8, 1940:
Conduct rites L. Skinner Rifle Victim
Believe Stumbled Over Gun in Barn
Funeral services for Leo Claudius Skinner, 40, accidentally killed by the discharge from a rifle at his home, two miles north of Litchfield, Saturday afternoon, were conducted this afternoon at the Gerit Funeral Home. Rev. H. P. Lovik, pastor of First Baptist Church, was in charge and interment was in Raymond Cemetery.
A jury empanelled at the funeral home Saturday night by Deputy Coroner D. K. Gordon returned a verdict of accidental death from a wound in the head from a caliber .22 short rifle bullet.
Ray Skinner, Jr., 12, a nephew of the decedent, who was alone with Mr. Skinner at the farm residence north of Litchfield on the Black Diamond Trail, was the only witness. Mrs. Skinner, accompanied by her children and Mr. Skinner's brother, Ray Skinner of O'Fallon, and wife who had arrived that morning had gone to St. Francis Hospital to get Mrs. Skinner's father, Mr. McCart, and left Ray, Jr., at home with his uncle.
The boy told the jury that his uncle left the house about 2:30 o'clock, telling him he was going into the yard. When his uncle did not return after a short time, he said he called and whistled and getting no answer went in search. He said he looked in the basement part of the barn and continued his search over the yard for a time before he returned to the barn and found his uncle on the main floor lying across the tongue of a corn planter. He said his parents and his aunt drove into the yard at the same time and he called to them. Dr. L. G. Allen was summoned but pronounced Mr. Skinner dead on his arrival. The discharge entered his right temple.
Mr. Skinner had kept the rifle at the barn to kill rats, relatives stated. It is believed that he stumbled over the rifle causing it to be discharged. Members of the jury were W. F. Morgan, Thomas Tibbs, Ted Meier, Ernest Felkel, T. W. Lynn and A. L. Harmon.
Mr. Skinner was a son of Alonzo and Sina Oller Skinner, and was born on a farm near Hillsboro, February 26, 1900. His entire life had been lived in Montgomery County. In earlier years he was engaged in farming, but for the last 16 years, excepting short intervals, he had been employed at the American Radiator plant here. He was united in marriage with Miss Nelle McCart of Raymond on May 4, 1931. To the union were born three children, Dorothy Lee, 8, Max Allen, 4, and Melba Joan, 2, who survive with their mother.
He also leaves his mother of North Litchfield and eight brothers and sisters, Ray Skinner, O'Fallon; Mrs. Bessie Fogleman, North Litchfield; Miss Mabel Skinner, Mrs. Stella Bowles, Miss Dora Skinner, Ralph Skinner and Russell Skinner, all of Litchfield, and Paul Skinner of Walshville. His father preceded him in death July 12, 1924, and a sister died in infancy.
Conduct rites L. Skinner Rifle Victim
Believe Stumbled Over Gun in Barn
Funeral services for Leo Claudius Skinner, 40, accidentally killed by the discharge from a rifle at his home, two miles north of Litchfield, Saturday afternoon, were conducted this afternoon at the Gerit Funeral Home. Rev. H. P. Lovik, pastor of First Baptist Church, was in charge and interment was in Raymond Cemetery.
A jury empanelled at the funeral home Saturday night by Deputy Coroner D. K. Gordon returned a verdict of accidental death from a wound in the head from a caliber .22 short rifle bullet.
Ray Skinner, Jr., 12, a nephew of the decedent, who was alone with Mr. Skinner at the farm residence north of Litchfield on the Black Diamond Trail, was the only witness. Mrs. Skinner, accompanied by her children and Mr. Skinner's brother, Ray Skinner of O'Fallon, and wife who had arrived that morning had gone to St. Francis Hospital to get Mrs. Skinner's father, Mr. McCart, and left Ray, Jr., at home with his uncle.
The boy told the jury that his uncle left the house about 2:30 o'clock, telling him he was going into the yard. When his uncle did not return after a short time, he said he called and whistled and getting no answer went in search. He said he looked in the basement part of the barn and continued his search over the yard for a time before he returned to the barn and found his uncle on the main floor lying across the tongue of a corn planter. He said his parents and his aunt drove into the yard at the same time and he called to them. Dr. L. G. Allen was summoned but pronounced Mr. Skinner dead on his arrival. The discharge entered his right temple.
Mr. Skinner had kept the rifle at the barn to kill rats, relatives stated. It is believed that he stumbled over the rifle causing it to be discharged. Members of the jury were W. F. Morgan, Thomas Tibbs, Ted Meier, Ernest Felkel, T. W. Lynn and A. L. Harmon.
Mr. Skinner was a son of Alonzo and Sina Oller Skinner, and was born on a farm near Hillsboro, February 26, 1900. His entire life had been lived in Montgomery County. In earlier years he was engaged in farming, but for the last 16 years, excepting short intervals, he had been employed at the American Radiator plant here. He was united in marriage with Miss Nelle McCart of Raymond on May 4, 1931. To the union were born three children, Dorothy Lee, 8, Max Allen, 4, and Melba Joan, 2, who survive with their mother.
He also leaves his mother of North Litchfield and eight brothers and sisters, Ray Skinner, O'Fallon; Mrs. Bessie Fogleman, North Litchfield; Miss Mabel Skinner, Mrs. Stella Bowles, Miss Dora Skinner, Ralph Skinner and Russell Skinner, all of Litchfield, and Paul Skinner of Walshville. His father preceded him in death July 12, 1924, and a sister died in infancy.
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h/o Nelle McCart
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