Trotter, Leota d. 1911

TROTTER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/1/2010 at 12:08:49

A shocking Accident

Little Child Killed by Gun in the Hands of a Boy

A most distressing accident occurred at the home of Joe Trotter in North Newton, a little before noon today, the particulars of which we can only give briefly. Mrs. Trotter was pitting cherries in the kitchen, with her little 10 months old granddaughter, Leota - only child of Arthur Trotter-playing on the floor beside her. Harrold Trotter, 19 year old son, came out of a bed room with a single-barreled shot gun, and pointing the weapon at the baby said, "I'm going to scare Leota." His mother said "No, don't!" and reached for the gun; but too late-the boy pulled the trigger and the contents of the weapon tore off the entire top and back of the baby's head, scattering its brains over the floor and walls, causing instant death. It was a terrible sight for those who soon afterwards visited the home.

The only witness to the tragedy was the grandmother, Mrs. Joe Trotter, the child's mother being at the time busy out-of-doors. The parents and grandparents are almost distracted.

In the absence of Coroner Hill, M. J. Carey held an inquest, and the jury found that death was caused by accident, according to above facts.
~ Newspaper unknown.
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The Baby's Funeral

The neighbors and friends gathered at the J. W. Trotter home Thursday afternoon where brief funeral services were held and then some of them went with the mother and father to lay away the body of Leota Trotter in the cemetery.

The mother's grief was great but she was quiet and composed. One who has known her very well stated, after the terrible tragedy, that he had never known a mother who seemed to have any deeper love for her offspring than this little woman whose child has been, without a moment's warning, torn from her arms. ~ The Newton Journal, 19 July 1911