McArthur, Donald James 1918-1926

MCARTHUR

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 9/19/2006 at 19:47:58

From the LeMars Sentinel, Friday, March 19, 1926, Page 1, Column 2:

WOUND PROVES FATAL TO BOY
NINE YEAR OLD SON OF EARL McARTHUR VICTIM OF TRAGIC ACCIDENT

Donald, the nine year old son of Earl McArthur, a well known bantam weight boxer, died Wednesday night, as the result of being shot below the heart by boy companions with a revolver Tuesday evening. Earl McArthur is well known here having grown up at Seney. The Sioux City Journal says of the accident:

"The boy's conditin was said by physicians to be critical from the first. The bullet from a .32 caliber revolver punctured his left lung and ranged downward, lodging against the spine. Early Tuesday (Wednesday?) afternoon an operation was performed in an effort to save his life, but his state was believed to be hopeless, even then.

Donald was playing with Warren Brindley, 9, and Raymond Woods, 10, at the Woods home in South Sioux City Tuesday night. Raymond declared that Warren, discovered the revolver beneath a pillow on one of the beds in the house and took it out to play with it. A controversy arose, apparently, about whether or not the gun could be "fixed" in such a manner that it would not shoot. In some manner, it exploded, the bullet entering Donald's left side.

Frightened, the boy's companions fled to their respective homes. The wounded boy staggered to the door of the house, where he fell and was discovered by Charles Woods, brother of Raymond, and owner of the pistol.

Warren Brindley is the son of Mrs. Maude Brindley, of South Sioux City. Miss Eunice Brindley, sister of Warren, stated that her brother told the family nothing of the affair when he came home. The facts were not learned until the boys were questioned at school Wednesday morning.

When Warren Brindley was questioned by South Sioux City police, the school authorities, and his relatives, he stoutly maintained that he had not fired the gun, however, Miss Brindley said. No action will be taken by authorities.

In addition to his parents, Donald is survived by two brothers, Harold, 12, and Robert 4. He was born in Sioux City in 1918 and moved with his parents to South Sioux City four years ago.

Earl McArthur was slated for a match with Sailor Larson Wednesday night, in Sioux City. The tragic death of Earl McArthur's son is something that will bring a pang of sorrow to his hundreds of friends. Coming as it did on the eve of an important fight, the tragedy that visited Earl's home was doubly unfortunate.