SON OF HENRY ARP OF KENNARD IS KILLED BY HIS OWN GUN

Friday evening at 5 o’clock neighbors in the vicinity of the farm home of Henry Arp, one mile south of Kennard, were shocked at the news that John Arp, a son, had in some manner killed himself with a shotgun and the rumor that it was a case of suicide caused much excitement, but this rumor, however, was wholly unfounded, as the investigation of Coroner Pierce put to flight any suspicions along this line.

The boy, who was about 19 years of age, had just returned from hauling manure and, tying his team near the barn, entered the house and secured a shotgun. Coming out he started towards the pasture, passing through the garden for some distance, when he was required to go through a wire fence that separated the garden from the pasture. Later, his mother noticed the team at the barn, but saw nothing of her son and, alarmed at his absence, started a search and soon one of the children discovered his body on the ground near the fence and rushing to him was horrified to see the entire left side of his face blown away. Death was instantaneous.

Coroner Pierce was at once notified and took charge of the body. The left hand of the dead boy was badly powder-burned, showing that this hand was near the muzzle when the gun discharged, the supposition being that in crossing the fence he had leaned the gun against the wires and, after passing through, reached for the weapon with the left hand and in pulling it towards him the hammer caught of one of the wires and rebounded with sufficient force to explode the cap. Mr. Pierce placed the same shell in the gun and when the hammer was released on full force the firing pin was driven considerably farther into the cap, showing that the fatal shot was discharged by slight pressure.

The dead boy is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Arp, well-to-do farmers of near Kennard, and in their bereavement they have the sympathy of many friends.

Pilot, September 13, 1911

John, the 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Arp who live about a mile and a half southwest of Kennard, was found dead near a fence, about 200 yards from the house, last Friday evening with the top of his head almost entirely blown away. He had evidently crawled through the fence and in pulling the shotgun through after him, it had been discharged, killing him instantly. He had taken his team into the barn and tied them up and got the shotgun to kill a hawk or something. The funeral was held in Arlington Sunday and interment made in the Arlington....

A different article lists Bennington as place of interment.