28 February 1901 – An unnamed girl

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From the Devizes and Wilts Advertiser on Thursday the 28th of February 1901

On Saturday afternoon several children were playing near the houses occupied by Messrs. Ockwell and Webb, of Braydon, their parents being away from home. A boy aged 9 years playfully remarked that he would shoot a little girl, aged about 7, and went to his father’s house and fetched a gun, which was loaded.

Photograph Copyright © Dave Cotterell 2024

He pointed it towards the little girl and pulled the trigger, nearly the whole charge entering the girl’s shoulder, shattering the bones in a shocking manner. Dr. Wride, of Wootton Basset, was sent for, and the injured girl was removed as soon as possible to the Malmesbury Cottage Hospital, where she now lies in a precarious condition.

It is worthy of note that none of the other children were hurt.

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