Killed His Friend

Killed His Friend

A Pittsfield Boy Accidentally Discharges His Gun

Robert Gutekunst, a 13 year old lad was accidentally shot and killed in Pittsfleld Monday afternoon. Robert lived with his step-father, John Gutekunst on Prof. J. B. Steere's farm in Pittsfield. He was assorting potatoes, when Prof. Steere's son, James A. Steere, a 17 year old lad, rode over on his bicycle borrowed an old musket which had been made over into a breech loading shot gun, which was in the potato cellar. He got it and one cartridge and wandered about looking for sparrows, meanwhile amusing himself putting the cartridge in the gun and taking it out. Returning he talked with Gutekunst and thought that he had the cartridge in his pocket. Suddenly the gun went off and young Gutekunst fell and died almost instantly. The charge of shot which did not scatter, grazed his chin and breaking the collar bone passed through his right lung. The boys had always been the best of friends and there is no doubt of the death being an accidental one.

Coroner Ball held an inquest Wednesday and the jury rendered a verdict that the shooting was accidental. Dr. Joe ball held the postmortem examination.