Pringle, Dorothy (1908-1923)

PRINGLE, LOWE

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/24/2016 at 11:04:33

Webster City Daily News, Monday, January 15, 1923

Dorothy Pringle Killed in Accidental Shooting

Shotgun in Hands of Elder Brother is Discharged When Boy Places Weapon on His Shoulder - Accident Occurs Yesterday Afternoon in Kitchen of Home Near Des Moines Street Bridge

Dorothy Pringle, fifteen years of age, and the eldest daughter of Mrs. Robert Pringle, was shot and killed yesterday afternoon by the accidental explosion of a rifle carried in the hands of her elder brother, Richard.

The terrible tragedy occurred in the kitchen of the Pringle home at 3:30 o'clock. Richard, the eldest son, aged sixteen years, was laughing and playing with his sister who sat in front of the kitchen stove and who railed him on his inability to shoot rabbits. He replied that he was going to kill a few and would show her, whereupon he secured the gun from a store room off the kitchen, and threw the weapon over his shoulder as he opened the door to leave. The gun which was a 44 shotgun, and which was loaded, was immediately discharged, the shot entering the right side of the head of his sister who sat about six feet away. The lead penetrated the brain and caused instant death.

The whole community is saddened by the news of this, another rel trouble which has come to Mrs. Pringle just seven weeks after the death of her husband, Robert Pringle, who died suddenly November 20, 1922, at his home where yesterday's tragedy occurred.

Dorothy was born January 31, 1908, and would have been fifteen years of age in two more weeks. She was a quiet dependable girl, and one upon whom her mother leaned with the cares of the five younger children. The child was in the seventh grade at school, and attended the Methodist Sunday school. She was sweet and lovable and her mother, sisters and brothers are in deep mourning over her tragic death.

The funeral will occur at the Methodist church tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, the services conducted by Rev. R.T. Chipperfield, pastor of the church.

The child's grandmother, Mrs. Mary E. Lowe, of Clare, Webster county, is expected to arrive some time this afternoon. Rev. Bayard Pringle, of Earlham, an uncle of the child, has telephoned that he will arrive tomorrow forenoon for the funeral, the serious illness of a son preventing his coming today.