[Death certificate]


===========================================

BECKLEY LAD FREED IN DEATH OF FRIEND

Howry Spangler Thought Rifle He Pointed
at James Howard Was Not Loaded

Beckley, Dec. 1. - Stopping a moment on the way to Sunday school to play with a new rifle cost the life of 13-year-old James Howard Cook and brought to Howry Spangler, 12, the grief of having killed his best friend. The Spangler boy was released today by county officers, after their investigation convinced them the shooting was accidental - another case of "didn't know it was loaded."

The small rifle he had just received was the Spangler boy's pride, and when his "pal" came to his home in Cabell Sunday morning to go with him to Sunday school, the two went to Howry's room to inspect the new gun. Thinking it was not loaded, he told the officers, Howry pointed it at his playmate and said "I believe I'll shoot you."

The bullet plowed through the boy's heart, and Howry, distracted, fled to Lester, where he was found by police last night. Other members of the family had started for Sunday school before the boys and it was several hours before James Cook missed his soon and the body was found where it had fallen in Howry Spangler's room.

The Cook boy was survived by his father and mother, two brothers and four sisters.

----------------------
Charleston Daily Mail
Charleston, W.Va.
Tuesday Evening
Dec. 1, 1925
page thirteen

* this article has the mistake of writing that James Cook missed his "soon". this is how it appears in the article, and i have left it as is for historical purposes and authenticity. i hope me doing this offends no one.

=================================

***** BECKLEY NEWS *****

CABELL LAD KILLED BY BEST FRIEND

James Howard Cook, age 13, is dead as the result of a threat made by his best friend, Howery Spangler, 14, on Sunday morning.

The tragedy occurred early Sunday morning about two miles out of Beckley at Cabell, when James Cook, who was on his way to visit his grandfather, stopped on the way to see his friend, Howery Spangler, who was staying with the dead lad's aunt, Mrs. Minnie Cook.

Howery, when his friend entered the room, picked up his rifle which he thought unloaded and aimed it at James with the playful of killing him. He pulled the trigger and his friend was dead with a .22 bullet through the heart. The Spangler boy immediately disappeared and a search was started for him. He was found in Lester Sunday night where he was arrested. He was released as no charge was preferred against him and the parents of the dead boy state that they will make no effort to prosecute him.

Funeral services were held at Table Rock at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon by Rev. Legg. The dead boy is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Cook; two brothers, George and Haskell; and four sisters, Mary, Marguerite, Rose and Gertrude.

---------------------
Charleston Gazette
Charleston, W.Va.
Wednesday
December 2, 1925
page 2



Thanks to Penny Harris for biographical information and bringing this story to my attention.
...terry
===========================================