Milford Herald Newspaper
Peter Bauer, an old soldier living in West Watseka, that part of the county seat known as "Old Town," committed suicide Tuesday morning by shooting himself with a revolver. Suffering from despondency the old man arose from his bed at 2 a.m., found his revolver, held it to the back of his head and fired. He lived about three hours in the new county hospital where he was rushed for surgical attendance.
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The basketball team of the Milford high school was defeated in the last home game of the season last Friday night by the Watseka high school team in a score of 15 to 21. The home team goes to Donovan tomorrow night for their last game.
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Seven Year Old Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Spence Thought Father's Shotgun Was Not Loaded
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PARENTS WERE NOT AT HOME
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Theodore Spence, seven years old, shot and killed his little sister Golda, at Onarga, Tuesday. In play the little boy pointed his father's shotgun at his sister and pulled the trigger. The top of the little girl's head was torn open and she died instantly. It is said that they were playing "bear" and the boy was the hunter. He thought the gun wasn't loaded. The boy and girl were the children of Mr. and Mrs. John Spence, the man being at work in Del Rey and the woman away from home visiting friends at Chatsworth. An older brother and sister were at home but in other rooms. The tragedy occurred in an upstairs room where the two younger children had gone to play. A sister 18 years old, had told the children to stay out of the room where she was scrubbing. The older bother was shaving and told them to keep away from him. They went upstairs to play. On hearing the shot the older brother and sister rushed upstairs to meet the boy running in horror out of the room. He said he didn't mean to do it and didn't know the gun was loaded. The little girl was lying on the floor dead. It is thought that she was on her hands and knees when the shot fired. The parents were summoned home and the coroner called for an inquest. At the hearing the father testified that he had never left the gun loaded, but it was brought out in the testimony that the older son had left it loaded.
(from The Milford Herald Newspaper March 2, 1916 transcribed by Carrol Mick)
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Community Mourns Death of Pauline Cavitt Whose Illness Was Brief
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Pauline Annetter Cavitt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Cavitt of Woodland, died Saturday of an illness which was of rather short duration. Pernicious anaemia is given as the cause of death. She was a member of the class of 1915 of the Woodland high school and was dearly beloved in that community. About a week before her death she suffered a fall down stairs in her home in which she received some severe bruises which were painful but not considered serious. It is thought that the illness which resulted in her death was not affected to any extent by the fall. Miss Cavitt was born August 23, 1898, and her life in Woodland had been such as to win her the esteem of all. She was identified with the church and Sunday school work and had been recently elected organist at the Sunday school. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Woodland, being held at the Methodist church. Rev. J. B. Speaker conducted the services. Burial was in the Woodland cemetery.
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