The following is taken from a June 19, 1875 newspaper clipping, regarding the death of Harry David Burdett, a child of William David and Harriet Burdett. (I have edited it for length.)
Thursday last week, Mrs. Post, a resident of this city, was visiting the family of David Burdett, at Plymouth -- just over the county line, in Hancock County. She was accompanied by her little son seven or eight years old; the Burdett's had a boy about the same age.
During the afternoon of visiting the group found their way outdoors, except for the two little boys. In a cabinet drawer Mr. Burdett had two pistols, which his son knew about. During their boyish play the little fellow went to the drawer and took out one of the pistols and said,"Let's have some fun..."
He told the little Post boy to take the other one since neither was loaded. The little Post boy refused to touch the weapon. Little Harry was so small that he did not have the strength in his fingers to cock the pistol. So he put it on the floor, butt down and bending over it, then undertook to force the hammer back; succeeding only enough that his hands slipped off the hammer. It was enough to explode the cap, discharging the pistol, and the ball penetrating his abdomen. As young as the boys were, they seemed to know the awfulness of the situation.
The wounded boy exclaimed and the Post boy got the adults. We can only imagine the agony of both set of parents as they found little Harry mortally wounded. He lived an hour after the accident, when assistance came it was no longer an emergency.
An inquest was held and the Post boy was asked to take the unloaded gun and demonstrate what happened. He would not touch it. He was given another object which he did use to show what happened.
Truly this sad affair has cast a gloom over our neighboring town, and the bereaved family has the sympathy of all.
Thursday last week, Mrs. Post, a resident of this city, was visiting the family of David Burdett, at Plymouth -- just over the county line, in Hancock County. She was accompanied by her little son seven or eight years old; the Burdett's had a boy about the same age.
During the afternoon of visiting the group found their way outdoors, except for the two little boys. In a cabinet drawer Mr. Burdett had two pistols, which his son knew about. During their boyish play the little fellow went to the drawer and took out one of the pistols and said,"Let's have some fun..."
He told the little Post boy to take the other one since neither was loaded. The little Post boy refused to touch the weapon. Little Harry was so small that he did not have the strength in his fingers to cock the pistol. So he put it on the floor, butt down and bending over it, then undertook to force the hammer back; succeeding only enough that his hands slipped off the hammer. It was enough to explode the cap, discharging the pistol, and the ball penetrating his abdomen. As young as the boys were, they seemed to know the awfulness of the situation.
The wounded boy exclaimed and the Post boy got the adults. We can only imagine the agony of both set of parents as they found little Harry mortally wounded. He lived an hour after the accident, when assistance came it was no longer an emergency.
An inquest was held and the Post boy was asked to take the unloaded gun and demonstrate what happened. He would not touch it. He was given another object which he did use to show what happened.
Truly this sad affair has cast a gloom over our neighboring town, and the bereaved family has the sympathy of all.
The following is taken from a June 19, 1875 newspaper clipping, regarding the death of Harry David Burdett, a child of William David and Harriet Burdett. (I have edited it for length.)
Thursday last week, Mrs. Post, a resident of this city, was visiting the family of David Burdett, at Plymouth -- just over the county line, in Hancock County. She was accompanied by her little son seven or eight years old; the Burdett's had a boy about the same age.
During the afternoon of visiting the group found their way outdoors, except for the two little boys. In a cabinet drawer Mr. Burdett had two pistols, which his son knew about. During their boyish play the little fellow went to the drawer and took out one of the pistols and said,"Let's have some fun..."
He told the little Post boy to take the other one since neither was loaded. The little Post boy refused to touch the weapon. Little Harry was so small that he did not have the strength in his fingers to cock the pistol. So he put it on the floor, butt down and bending over it, then undertook to force the hammer back; succeeding only enough that his hands slipped off the hammer. It was enough to explode the cap, discharging the pistol, and the ball penetrating his abdomen. As young as the boys were, they seemed to know the awfulness of the situation.
The wounded boy exclaimed and the Post boy got the adults. We can only imagine the agony of both set of parents as they found little Harry mortally wounded. He lived an hour after the accident, when assistance came it was no longer an emergency.
An inquest was held and the Post boy was asked to take the unloaded gun and demonstrate what happened. He would not touch it. He was given another object which he did use to show what happened.
Truly this sad affair has cast a gloom over our neighboring town, and the bereaved family has the sympathy of all.
Thursday last week, Mrs. Post, a resident of this city, was visiting the family of David Burdett, at Plymouth -- just over the county line, in Hancock County. She was accompanied by her little son seven or eight years old; the Burdett's had a boy about the same age.
During the afternoon of visiting the group found their way outdoors, except for the two little boys. In a cabinet drawer Mr. Burdett had two pistols, which his son knew about. During their boyish play the little fellow went to the drawer and took out one of the pistols and said,"Let's have some fun..."
He told the little Post boy to take the other one since neither was loaded. The little Post boy refused to touch the weapon. Little Harry was so small that he did not have the strength in his fingers to cock the pistol. So he put it on the floor, butt down and bending over it, then undertook to force the hammer back; succeeding only enough that his hands slipped off the hammer. It was enough to explode the cap, discharging the pistol, and the ball penetrating his abdomen. As young as the boys were, they seemed to know the awfulness of the situation.
The wounded boy exclaimed and the Post boy got the adults. We can only imagine the agony of both set of parents as they found little Harry mortally wounded. He lived an hour after the accident, when assistance came it was no longer an emergency.
An inquest was held and the Post boy was asked to take the unloaded gun and demonstrate what happened. He would not touch it. He was given another object which he did use to show what happened.
Truly this sad affair has cast a gloom over our neighboring town, and the bereaved family has the sympathy of all.
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