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- Union Sun and Journal - 12/9/1944
While her parents worked at war jobs in Lockport, an eight-year-old Appleton girl—one of seven children—was fatally shot at her home in the Hess Road Friday afternoon by her nine-year-old brother who was playing soldier with a shotgun he didn't know was loaded.The full charge struck the little girl, Mary Helen Schurr, 8, in the middle of the back, causing almost instant death. Dr. Mabel Carmer, Newfane, coroner, said the spine was penetrated by the leaden pellets. She issued a certificate of accidental death.
Old-Style Gun
State Police reported the gun was fired by nine-year-old Rober Schurr. Three smaller girls were playing m the house and a 11-year old brother was in the bam, they learned. A 16-year-old sister was on a shopping trip in Lockport and the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Schurr, were both working here at Harrison Radiator Division, General Motors Corporation. The gun, an old-style double-barreled 13-gauge weapon was kept in the bedroom and State Police said the parents told them that they believed it was unloaded. As the shooting was explained by the children, Robert was playing soldier with the gun and fired at his sister through the bedroom door as she was crossing the adjoining living room.
Funeral Monday
When the girl fell wounded, the frightened children ran to the home of neighbors who summoned a doctor Later the body was moved to the Corwin mortuary in Newfane.The surviving children are, Raymond F , Robert W., Marjorie J.,Lina C, Betty M and Freda J. Schurr, all at home. A grandmother, Mrs. Cora Farewell, lives In Lockport.Services will be held Monday at 2 o'clock at the family home. Burial will be in North Ridge Cemetery
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