George Ireland Killed By Gun

Unloaded Automatic is Fired Accidentally By Son, Aged 13

George W. Ireland, sr., 50, of Omaha, son of Preston Ireland and himself a former resident of Blair, was shot and killed at his home in Omaha Sunday night with an “unloaded” gun, in the hands of his 13 year old son, George, jr. The bullet struck the man in the chest.

With members of a neighboring family the Ireland’s were partaking of a supper on their lawn. One of the men of the party went into the house and got the pistol to show it t another. During the inspection he fired a bullet into the air. Then he removed the magazine, believing that this process removed all the bullets, and tossed the gun to the ground.

Removal of the magazine, however, leaves one bullet in the firing chamber.

The others returned to their supper except George, who walked over and picked up the gun. Mr. Ireland was seated at a corner of the table. George raised the gun and it went off.

Mr. Ireland slumped into his chair, but the others were not immediately alarmed, believing he was feigning a wound. When he did not rise, however, they examined him and found a bullet had entered his left side. The bullet penetrated the chest, emerging on the right side. He died a few minutes later.

Funeral services were held in Omaha Wednesday afternoon and from Blair Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Ireland and Mr. and Mrs. V. O. Ireland attended. The victim of the tragedy was a nephew of the O. M. Ireland’s. Note: Buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha. The burial date was used since no death date was given in order to input this record. Find a Grave # 134841183.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~