Thomas, Minnie Ellen

THOMAS, SELLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/21/2010 at 07:36:18

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Sept. 18, 1928

SAD TRAGEDY ENDS A LIFE

Mrs. John Thomas of Westfield is Instantly Killed by Accidental Discharge of Rifle

TRIGGER CAUGHT AS SHE CLIMBED THROUGH FENCE

Funeral Services Will Be Held Wednesday at 2 p.m. From Westfield Church

Mrs. John Thomas of Westfield neighborhood, was instantly killed Sunday morning at 11:30 when struck just in front of the right ear by the bullet of a .22 rifle, accidentally discharged when Mrs. Thomas attempted to crawl under a wire fence. She was going to the chicken pen to kill a chicken for dinner, and as she crawled through the fence the rifle was discharged in some unknown manner.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were both employed in the canning factory here. They worked late Saturday night and returned to their home, about five miles southwest of Grinnell, at 1 o'clock Sunday morning.

Mrs. Thomas arose about 9 o'clock Sunday morning and, leaving her husband in bed, she and her son went to a grove near the house to shoot two or three squirrels for dinner. They took a small bore, hammerless rifle with them.

Unable to find any squirrels, Mrs. Thomas and her son started back to the house, intending to kill a chicken for dinner. The boy ran ahead to secure corn with which to attract the chickens so that one might easily be caught, leaving his mother with the rifle.

It was necessary to cross a fence near the house and Mrs. Thomas climbed through, then attempted to pull the rifle through after her. In some manner the rifle was discharged, the bullet causing almost instant death.

Before her marriage Mrs. Thoamas was Minnie Ellen Selle, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Selle. She passed her thirty-third birthday in August. She is survived by her husband and one son. She was an active, helpful woman, devoted to her family and interested in all good things. The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over all who knew her.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Westfield church and burial will be in the Westfield cemetery.