Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1909 — Former Rensselaer Pastor’s Son Meets Accidental Death. [ARTICLE]

Former Rensselaer Pastor’s Son Meets Accidental Death.

The South Lend Times of last Friday gives the following account of the accidental killing of Davis Donald Sheppard, son of Rev. and Mrs. N. IL Sheppard, of that city, and some ten years ago residents of Rensselaer, during which time Rev. .Sheppard was pastor of the Christian church: “Davis Donald Sheppard, age 12 years and 6 months, was accidentally shot and killed Thursday night at the home of Benjamin F. Rhinehart, one mile west of Walkerton, while examining a revolver his half-brother, Earle E. Sheppard, was holding at the time. “The bullet entered the body just above the breast bone and came out over the left Bboulder blade. He lived only a few minutes. Dr. M. S. Denaut, of Walkerton, was summoned, but medical assistance was of no avail. “The Sheppard boy is the son of Rev. and Mrs. N. H. Sheppard, of 226 East Elder street. He went to Walkerton Thursday morning to visit his half-brother, Earle, aged 17, who has been staying at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs? Rhinehart. The latter are visiting the Seattle exposition. There was only one other person in the house, Elton Richter, also of South Bend, who has been employed on the farm. “The three boys were in the kitchen about 10 o’clock when they heard a door slam upstairs and thought some intruder was in the house. Earle got the revolver and was holding it in front of his brother, who was sitting down. Both were examining the weapon when in some manner it was exploded, the bullet striking the younger lad.”