Tragic Death of Popular Homerville Boy (1929)

The Clinch County News (Homerville, Georgia)
4 January 1929
(Viewed online at World Vital Records.)

TRAGIC DEATH OF POPULAR HOMERVILLE BOY

Clarence Smith, Jr., Accidently Shot Yesterday, Died This Morning

Clarence A. Smith, Jr., age 11, one of Homerville's finest little boys, was accidently and fatally shot yesterday morning with a 22 rifle in the hands of a playmate, T. C. Chambers, Jr. The wounded boy walked home from the scene of the tragedy, and was rushed immedaitely to a hospital in Waycross where it was found that the bullet had entered just below the ribs on one side and came out on the other side about the same place. It was found that an artery had been severed, and an awful loss of blood portended death which intervened this morning about seven o'clock.

The boys were out at the ball park so it is said, and had been shooting at birds and still objects, and in some way the rifle discharged accidently and the lad was doomed.

The funeral exercises have not been announced at this writing (Friday noon) but will be held sometime tomorrow at the home.

Clarence Junior, as he was called, was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Smith, and was one of the town's finest little boys, with a close friend in every one of his playmates and school-mates. He was a robust, healthy child, and possessed of a cheerful, genial disposition and in his dealings and playings with his boy friends was always exceedingly fair and kind. Indeed, in this boy was a fine prospect for a man possessed with a well-rounded and developed character both morally and spiritually.

His tragic and sudden death has cast one of the most saddening palls of gloom ever cast over the town, and everybody is shocked and grieved. The parents of the boy together with the Chambers lad and his parents, are prostrated by the load of grief which is theirs in this hour of sorrow.

The Editor would that he could do something or write something that would in this hour of grief, alleviate their pungent sorrow but in common with others can do but little, since Death has had its way.

The little boys of his size and class both in Sunday school and day school, are grief-stricken also.

This is indeed one of the worst calamities to happen in our town in a long time.