“Investigation of the accidental shooting to death early thursday afternoon of Charles Nealy, four year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nealy of Long Run by his older brother Eddie, nine years old, disclosed the fact that the mother had taken the shotgun and gone hunting and on the return trip had allowed the eldest son to carry the loaded gun.”
“The mother1, accompanied by the two children, had been out on the hills a short time in search of rabbits. There had been only one shell for the gun at the house and this was to have been used in the killing of a rabbit by the mother.”
“The hunt proved unsuccessful and the mother and sons started back to the house. They had reached a point about 150 feet from the rear part of the home when the fatal shooting occurred. The boy carrying the gun was walking down the path in front of his mother and brother. He carried it under his arm, with the barrel pointing to the rear. The mother and young son were only about ten feet back of the gun when it was discharged. The mother had a narrow escape from being wounded as she was right behind her youngest son when he received the full charge of the gun in his chest. Blood vessels were severed near the heart and death came almost instantly.”
“Coroner Virgil Fowler and Special Investigator EE Rickey2 from the county prosecuting attorney’s office visited the home into yesterday afternoon and found the family in destitute circumstances. The body was turned over to Undertaker Daehler and ordered prepared for county burial. Coroner Fowler rendered a verdict of accidental death.”
“The father was some distance away from home shucking corn when his young son was killed. Funeral and burial services will be held Saturday.”3
Certificate of Death for Charles Henry Neely4
- Mary M Ratcliff Neely
- Ernest E Rickey
- Coroner Renders Accidental Verdict in Long Run Shooting; Family Is Destitute. (1924, November 27). Portsmouth Daily Times, p. 19.
- “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPKX-SS1N?cc=1307272&wc=MD9F-2TL%3A287598601%2C294674901 : 21 May 2014), 1924 > 61901-64900 > image 548 of 3293.
